HIV and Community Mental Healthcare

HIV and AIDS strongly affect people psychologically. HIV-infected persons can experience a wide range of psychological and neuropsychological problems which may require mental health treatment. Additionally, their family, friends and healthcare workers may need recourse to mental health services. People at risk of infection may also benefit from mental health intervention. In this text, the contributors discuss the prevention and treatment that community mental healthcare workers may make to persons affected by HIV and AIDS. The volume begins with a discussion of the basic aspects of HIV disease with which mental health clinicians need to be familiar, such as epidemiology, law, ethics, detection and transmission. This is followed by mental health interventions for stress, depression and suicide. Topics include women and HIV, multicultural issues, mental illness and drug abuse. The text is intended as an interdisciplinary handbook for practitioners, as well as a course textbook for students.It should be of interest to mental healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses and counsellors in its aim to help this audience improve their ability to care for those affected by HIV and AIDS.