Campaign aims to address mental suffering of HIV patients

THE burden of keeping the secret of living with HIV means people are increasingly experiencing suicidal thoughts, depression and low self-esteem issues, experts have said.

The latest statistics from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that there were 5,968 cases of HIV reported in Ireland at the end of December 2010, with 331 newly diagnosed in 2010. Of the new cases, 123 were heterosexually transmitted, and 22 were among injecting drug users.

The figures emerged as a national campaign to address the issue, Open Your Mind, was initiated by patients who use services at Open Heart House, a support service in Dublin, and the Sexual Health Centre in Cork.