Hope for Now: Addressing Suicide Among PLWHAs

By: Jonathan J. Pena, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate (LCSWA)

“This highway's dark and empty.

Just miles and miles of endless road.

I've got a sickness pounding in my head.

I'm at the mercy of the ghost.”[1]

A diagnosis of being HIV positive back when this epidemic began, was synonymous with death. This, now dark road, was paved with unfathomable fear as more questions arose than answers. The virus was no longer the only infection that had occurred, as despair took form and occupied more mental space than hope. While receiving a diagnosis of being HIV positive no longer is a death sentence thanks to antiretroviral medication, people living with HIV/AIDS can sadly still face this type of mental darkness as a part of their lived experiences that leads to suicide ideation and successful suicide attempts.

Photo Source: Getty Images / tadamichi

Annually, an estimated 800,000 people die worldwide from suicide according to the World Health Organization.[2] In looking at the general population who have suicidal ideation, 1 out of 3 will attempt to commit suicide and one death will result from 286 attempts.[3] When compared to the general population, one in every two people living with HIV/AIDS experiences suicidal ideation and one attempt at suicide will occur according to a study conducted by the Penn State University College of Medicine.[4] Additionally, data analysis from 185,000 people living with HIV/AIDS indicated that this population were 100 times more likely to die from attempted suicide in contrast to the general population.[5] 

“I sought after, after reasons to stay

I was lost, I was lost”[6]

People living with HIV/AIDS experience risk factors that can contribute to the strong sentiments of feeling lost within their diagnosis. One of the most profound sources that impacts healthy experiences of happiness is the connectivity we received from other people. People serve as the bridge and catalyst of shared experiences across time and locations. Societal stigma towards HIV/AIDS works to sever these dynamic and powerful human connectivity by devaluing basic human respect and compassion. Society often labels people living with HIV/AIDS as other within communities and this population quickly become outcasts. Through this process, shame and guilt can be fostered and become increasingly hard to overcome if we are not effectively targeting and addressing mental illness within this population. Dr. Paddy Ssentongo, a researcher and epidemiology doctoral student stated that “there is an urgent need to prioritize mental health screening and care into all HIV testing and treatment settings.”[7] As a social worker within mental health, I really resonate with this statement. Targeting HIV testing and treatment settings can help clinicians to target people who may be suffering with trying to find reasons to stay in this world because the darkness they feel from society as a result of their diagnosis. Additionally, this population faces other risk factors like neurological changes, poverty, lack of access to care and advanced disease.[8] 

“How can I instill such hope, but be left with none of my own?

What if I could sing just one song and it might save somebody’s life?”[9]

When we shift our perspective of HIV/AIDS from an individual issue to community healing, we usher in hope that may have been lost with a positive diagnosis. We need to strengthen and revitalize our approach to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention to include mental health screening. Effective patient centered care isn’t solely about the diagnosis and approaching it as such would greatly diminish our ability to make effective, long lasting changes when it comes to treatment as a whole. We need to incorporate more of the human component to HIV treatment and care because it is within that sphere that we get to learn about the lived experiences that are occurring. Again, remember that people are LIVING with HIV/AIDS, so we need to understand how the various aspects of their lives intersect with one another. This provides invaluable information that can useful in targeting mental health screening across areas like healthcare, poverty, childcare, employment, and education, just to name a few. 

Living with HIV/AIDS doesn’t need to become a dark and empty pathway that extinguishes the hope of a continued happy and fulfilled life. Modern medicine has changed the landscape of HIV treatment and care opening up the road of this population to live long and healthy lives. Now, in order to strengthen this approach to longevity, we need to remember our own humanity and incorporate that element of strength in order to give hope to those of us sitting in the dark.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates. 

[1] Song Lyrics by City of Colour, “Hope for Now”.

[2] Cox, T. (2021). People living with HIV/AIDS have a significantly higher risk of suicide. Penn State News. Retrieved from: https://news.psu.edu/story/661753/2021/06/28/research/people-living-hivaids-have-significantly-higher-risk-suicide#.YOhQh_nmJ0Z.twitter.

[3] Cox. People living with HIV/AIDS have a significantly higher risk of suicide.

[4] Cox. People living with HIV/AIDS have a significantly higher risk of suicide.

[5] Cox. People living with HIV/AIDS have a significantly higher risk of suicide.

[6] City of Colour. Hope for Now.

[7] Cox. People living with HIV/AIDS have a significantly higher risk of suicide.

[8] Cox. People living with HIV/AIDS have a significantly higher risk of suicide.

[9] City of Colour. Hope for Now.