Integrating mental health services into HIV care is essential to improve overall well-being for people living with HIV 

People living with HIV are more likely than average to develop mental health issues, but this is not yet fully reflected in HIV services, policies or practices. Stigma, discrimination and social isolation can add to the burden of anxiety and depression facing the HIV community.  

However, integrating psychosocial supports into hospital and community-based care remains a major challenge across Europe and beyond. Clear reimbursement and referral pathways, along with better use of digital health tools and data insights, can help to ensure services meet the needs of the HIV community.  

These were among the recurring themes at a high-level online conference convened by HIV Outcomes to mark World AIDS Day 2020. The event focused on mental health – a topic in line with the wider goal of shifting the focus of HIV policy beyond viral suppression.    

• Participants

  • Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

  • Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Europe Director

  • Vinay P. Saldanha, Special Adviser to Executive Director UNAIDS

  • Ortwin Schulte, representative of the German EU Presidency

  • Frédérique Ries, Renew Europe, Belgium

  • Dr Cristian Buşoi(, European People’s Party, Romania

  • Sara Cerdas. Socialists & Democrats, Portugal

  • Tilly Metz, Greens/European Free Alliance, Luxembourg

• Agenda

  10:00 | Welcome remarks

  • MEP Frédérique Ries, Renew Europe, Belgium

  • Dr Jeffrey Lazarus, Co-Chair, HIV Outcomes

  10:10 | Setting the scene: Mental health and living with HIV: perspectives of a person living with HIV and a clinician

  • Marian Said, Member, European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG)

  • Dr Joop Arends, Infectious Diseases Physician and Happi app Founder

  10:25 | Rethinking European health systems to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV

  Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

  10:35 | panel discussion

  11:05 | Q&A

  Integrating mental health into HIV care

  • MEP Sara Cerdas, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Portugal

  • Leoluca Orlando, City Mayor of Palermo, representing Fast-Track Cities Europe, Italy

  • Ortwin Schulte, Head of Health Unit, Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU

  • Hilkka Kärkkäinen, President, Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN)

  11: 15 | BREAK

  11:25 | Sharing of best practices in mental health support for people living with HIV

  Ana-Maria Schweitzer, Executive Director, Baylor Foundation, Romania

  11:35 | Stronger healthcare systems to leave no one behind

  Dr Hans Kluge, Director, WHO Europe

  11:40 | panel discussion

  12:05 | Q&A

  Cooperating internationally to address the mental health needs of people living with HIV

  • MEP Tilly Metz, Greens/European Free Alliance, Luxembourg

  • Dr Nicole Simone Seguy, Unit lead HIV and hepatitis, WHO Europe

  • Vinay Saldanha, Special Adviser to Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS

  • Igor Gordon, Programme Director, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA)

  12:15 | Closing remarks and next steps

  • John Bowis, Co-President, HIV Outcomes

  • MEP Cristian Bușoi, European People's Party (EPP), Romania

  • Nikos Dedes, Co-Chair, HIV Outcomes