How can I help?

Showing interest, providing a listening ear and offering support can help the person to feel less anxious and embarrassed or isolated. If things feel too much for you or them there are plenty of support agencies providing counselling, mental health advice and pastoral care. Try not to overburden yourself. Remember they might not need support right now but at a later date so don’t feel rejected if they decline your offer of help.

Offering help to someone living with HIV can make a real difference, however you need to decide what level of support you can offer, whether it is appropriate and if you have sufficient time and expertise. There is no hard and fast rule but remember there are specialist agencies with experience of caring and supporting people living with HIV and you need to think about how it will affect you in considering the type of support you can offer and dealing with disclosure.

Ways you can help: Taking time to source accurate and useful information, or where you can get support could make a difference to someone trying to cope with HIV. But don’t try to do everything. The individual living with HIV has to be in control. Remember that it’s not only HIV agencies that provide help and support to people living with HIV, and depending on what you need at any one time, you might want to contact housing, mental health, drugs, or youth groups.

People with HIV want to be treated the same as anyone else. In time of need, there’s extra help.

Consider the following:

• Ask how you can help
• Listen
• Respect the need for confidentiality and privacy
• It’s alright to talk about feelings, show affection or anger, and let off steam
• Don’t be isolated or allow the other person to be isolated
• Set your alarm as a reminder of the usual time for taking medications
• Show dignity and respect, love and affection