Coffee & Talk HOW COVID-19 IMPACTED HIV/STBBI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES: INSIGHTS FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS May 24, 2023 Presenters: Rita Dhungel, Jose Benito Tovillo, John Wang, Bess Yang, Sarah Thomas, Catherine Broomfield, Dorcas Mazibuko. Research Team: Rita Dhungel, Sarah Rich-Zendel, Jose Benito Tovillo and John Wang. Welcome! We would like to acknowledge that our presentation takes place on Traditional Indigenous Lands. We invite you to join us in our ongoing commitments to the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the 231 Calls for Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People Acknowledging Past, Present and Future | Acknowledging Cultural Teachers | Acknowledging our Commitments Poem Reading Introduction/Background ● HIV is a global public health and social justice issue. ● Globally, around 38.4 million people living with HIV in 2021.(WHO; UNAIDS). ● Estimated 62,790 People Living With HIV (PLWH) in Canada at the end of 2020. (Canada.ca) ● Alberta has the 4th highest rates of HIV in Canada; a total of 5259 STI/HIV cases were reported in 2020. (Alberta Health Services). ● People living with HIV rely on a network of community-based service providers for a range of social and health services which the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted. ● Service providers working in the area of HIV/STBBI were at the intersection of PLWH and COVID-19. ● The service providers were uncertain on how to effectively support themselves and support PLWH due to the precarity of the pandemic. Study Objectives: Our Research ● 1. To explore the support received for continuity of their services/programming during the pandemic. ● 2. To understand the extent of challenges experienced by the service providers. To Examine the experiences ● 3. To assess the mental and psychological well being, as well as the coping mechanisms and resources available for the frontline staff and leadership team. of HIV/AIDS service providers in Alberta during the COVID-19 pandemic. WHAT WE DID: A mixed methods approach Surveys: Focus Groups: ● ● ● ● Disseminated online surveys to community based organizations ( leadership team and staff) that support people living with HIV/STBBIs. The surveys asked about holistic wellbeing of the service providers as well as their coping mechanisms. 29 service providers completed the surveys . ● ● Invited staff from community based organizations that support people living with HIV/STBBIs. The focus groups emphasize in-depth understanding of the challenges the service providers experienced during COVID 19 We held 3 focus groups with people in leadership roles (n=9) and 2 focus groups with front line staff (n=12) What we learned about how COVID-19 impacted HIV/STBBI Supports and Services Services providers highlighted that there was a significant increase in People who are living with HIV’s need for services during the pandemic, but there was a significant decrease in agencies/organizations capacities to provide these services and meet the needs of service users. • 56% reported an increase in demand for mental health supports • 77% reported an increase in demand for social supports • 66% reported a increase in demand for substance use supports • 81% reported a change in their ability to provide/connect services users with mental health & social supports • 62% reported a decrease in operational hours during the pandemic • 74% reported a decrease in the ability to provide face-to-face services/supports What we learned about the impacts on Service providers well-being. ● Over 50% of respondents reported a decrease in their social well-being and mental health. ● Less than 50% reported a decrease in their spiritual and financial well-being. Experiences of Anxiety Working in Pandemic 33% Sometimes 22% Frequently 6% Very Frequently Fear of Working During Pandemic Stress level during pandemic Effectiveness of Supports Received 52% Rarely 11% Sometimes 11% Frequently 4% Extremely Stressful 14% Very Stressful 67% Somewhat Stressful 21% Extremely effective 58% Very Effective 21% Somewhat Effective Loneliness 4% Completely Alone 17% Very Much so 35% Somewhat Able to count on others 48% Completely 35% Very much so 17% Somewhat can Key themes: Focus Groups 1. COVID 19 exacerbated existing constraints to service provision 2. Increased alienation from work the main challenge 3. High awareness of changes in well-being and coping needs, and willingness to seek support inside and outside of work 4. Framing their own challenges within the contexts of their clients Coping Mechanisms used by Service Providers during Pandemic Coping Mechanisms used by Staff during Pandemic Reflections from Service Providers & Leadership Members Dorcas Mazibuko & Catherine Broomfield Implications and Recommendations Additional Implications and Recommendations Research Challenges Eligibility criteria Staff turnover Workload Recruitment Burnout Concluding Comments COVID 19 escalated existing constraints to service provision. Covid 19 highlighted the importance of maintaining one’s mental wellbeing as a frontline worker with an emotionally demanding job during trying times. Covid brought many challenges for some and also made life more accessible for others. Covid taught everyone to think outside of the box and connect in different ways and try new methods to promote and maintain mental well-being. Suggestions and recommendations that may assist in promoting togetherness and mental well-being include: flexible service delivery options, focused attention to ensuring staffs’ mental wellness, strengthening the relationship between all staff and similar organizations including researchers, and investing in tools to promote psychological well-being during difficult times. Discussion & Questions Thank you Dr. Rita Dhungel Rita.Dhungel@ufv.ca This research was generously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.