The current state of knowledge of mental health issues suffered by North American adults learning to live with HIV/AIDS diagnosis and experiencing stigma in accessing healthcare services

For individuals living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [HIV/AIDS], the long-term toll on their physical health is well-documented. However, adverse impacts on their mental health are not as widely publicized, yet can be even more challenging for infected individuals to deal with. In North America, if HAART or other treatments are started early enough, most of those “death sentences” have been commuted into a “largely manageable chronic disease” (Fang, Vincent, Calabrese, Heckman, Sikkema, Humphries and Hansen, 2016, p. 2). This literature review seeks to answer the research question “What is the current state of knowledge regarding the serious mental health issues suffered by adult patients diagnosed with and learning to live with HIV/AIDS and how social workers can help meet their needs and challenges?” Key findings include the widespread suffering of People Living with HIV/AIDS [PLHA] caused by HIV-related stigma (enacted, internalized and anticipated), by medical professionals and others. Depression, increased life-stress, HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder [HAND], heightened anxiety and increased high risk behavior (such as engaging in unprotected sex) are the main mental health issues and challenges resulting from HIV-related stigma. Past researches recommends taking a comprehensive holistic approach, which includes but is not limited to additional anti-stigma training for future and current social and health care workers, HAND-testing, individual HIV-case management and stronger advocating for HIV-positive clients.