The British Psychological Society, British HIV Association (BHIVA) and Medical Foundation for AIDS & Sexual Health (MedFASH) have published "Standards for psychological support for adults living with HIV"

from the MedFASH webite

"Standards for psychological support for adults living with HIV

British Psychological Society (BPS), British HIV Association (BHIVA) and Medical Foundation for AIDS & Sexual Health (MedFASH)

Published: 17 November 2011

Despite significant medical advances in HIV treatment, people living with HIV experience higher rates of psychological difficulties than the general population. Psychological support improves both mental and physical health and reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Yet the availability and quality of psychological support for people living with HIV is currently variable.

These first ever Standards for psychological support for adults living with HIV describe the support that all adults living with HIV should receive, from a wide range of professional groups, peers and informal providers, to enhance their mental health and their cognitive, emotional and behavioural wellbeing. They focus on:

• the promotion of mental health and wellbeing
• the early detection of psychological difficulties and
• the provision of appropriate interventions for those who need them.

A valuable tool for both providers and commissioners, they support the development and maintenance of high quality, cost-effective services and care pathways for adults living with HIV.

The Standards are published by MedFASH in partnership with the BPS and BHIVA, and are endorsed by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), the National AIDS Trust (NAT), the National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ (RCPsych) Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry, and the Society of Sexual Health Advisers (SSHA).

An educational grant from Abbott has supported the development of this publication. Abbott has had no editorial input or involvement in its production. Additional contributions were received from BHIVA, the FacHIV&SH (BPS) and MedFASH.

For more information about the standards project, please see our Activities page."