HIVAIDS/Mental Health and Spirituality

To Do

 * View the presentation about mental health issues specifically in relation to long term survivors of HIV/AIDS.
 * View the ‎ Spirituality presentation;
 * Read the material on the Stigma and Discrimination topic in the next section
 * Review the spiritual dimension of HIV/AIDS and Planning for Spiritual Care (further on in this section);
 * Explore and discuss a selection of spiritual scenarios.

Stigma and discrimination
One aspect of ensuring mental health is the promotion of a positive attitude and the acceptance and support from family, friends, partner(s) and the community. Stigma and discrimination can have a negative impact on an individual's mental health. (Contribution by Feriyal Baptist from the MindSet Network.

Planning for spiritual care
Long term goal: To minimize spiritual distress

Objectives
The patient will do the following:


 * Continue spiritual practices which are not detrimental to health;
 * Express decreased feelings of guilt and anxiety;
 * Express religious or spiritual satisfaction;
 * State that conflict has been reduced or eliminated;
 * Express comfort with their relationship with their god and with significant others;
 * Rest comfortably;
 * State acceptance of ethical/moral decisions;
 * Display positive affect and behaviour;
 * State that they feel at peace;
 * Express positive meaning in their existence and in their present circumstances.

Interventions

 * Establish an environment that promotes free expression of feelings and concerns;
 * Use therapeutic communication skills of reflection and active listening;
 * Appropriate use of presence and touch;
 * Promote patient’s spiritual beliefs
 * Encourage or help maintain patient’s relationship with their personal god;
 * Promote patient’s sense of hope;
 * Refer to appropriate resources for help;
 * Advocate for the patient’s spiritual beliefs with the health team;
 * Provide spiritual resources if otherwise unavailable.


 * Assist the patient to do the following:


 * Meet his or her own spiritual goals;
 * Fulfil religious obligations;
 * Use spiritual resources to meet the present situation;
 * Find meaning in their existence and in their present difficult situation;
 * Mend disrupted relationships.