Community Forum Presented by Positive Living BC
Join Positive Living BC on May 11 at the latest event in their Community Forum Educational Series.
Gay and bisexual men living with HIV continue to struggle with the pervasiveness of HIV stigma. Since the onset of the HIV epidemic, high rates of suicide have been described among people living with HIV and these rates have remained high even in the era of effective treatments.
In the 2014 and 2015 Sex Now Survey, an online anonymous survey of Canadian GBMSM, 673 of the respondents reported their HIV+ status and indicated if, in the last 12 months, they have “considered” suicide (referred to as suicidal ideation); and if they have “attempted” suicide. Among this group, 22% reported suicide ideation and 5% reported at least one suicide attempt in the last 12 months. Suicide ideation and suicide attempts were associated with each of four measures of HIV stigma: being excluded socially for being having HIV; being rejected as a sexual partner; being verbally abused; or being physically abused.
Dr. Olivier Ferlatte will discuss his research based on the Sex Now Survey results that shows how gay and bisexual men with HIV experience significant levels of stigma that are associated with heightened risk for suicide. These findings affirm the need for targeted interventions to prevent suicide amid public health efforts to de-stigmatize HIV and mental illness.
This event is FREE, but RSVP IS REQUIRED! Please RSVP to [email protected] or call Brandon at (604) 893-2259 to reserve your space! Members of Positive Living BC, people living with HIV and front line service providers are invited to attend. If you can’t be at the event in person, you can participate live online.