Project Description

APLHIV with the support from GILEAD, successfully implemented a mental health and psychosocial support program for people living with HIV (PLHIVs) across nine sites in three provinces. The initiative involved training ART (antiretroviral therapy) physicians, social workers, and community workers on the WHO mhGAP-IG (Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide) and establishing a toll-free helpline for PLHIVs managed by APLHIV (Association for People Living with HIV).

To address the lack of mental health training among general physicians and counselors at ART centers, we built a multitiered service model. Community workers conducted mental health screenings for PLHIVs using the WHO mhGAP manual, and those identified with mental health conditions were referred to psychiatry units for further treatment. Notably, ten ART centers located within hospitals with postgraduate psychiatry departments provided seamless access to advanced psychiatric care.

Trained ART physicians offered follow-up support as part of integrated care. This systematic approach enhanced the capacity of healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive, high-quality mental health and ART services to PLHIVs, fostering better overall health outcomes.