August 19, 2008

Suicidal Thoughts Common in People With HIV

Nearly a third of people with HIV from five London clinics reported having had recent thoughts of suicide, according to a study published in the August 20 issue of AIDS.

Numerous studies have found that rates of depression and anxiety are higher in people living with HIV than their HIV-negative counterparts. To determine how frequently their HIV-positive patients experience suicidal thoughts and feelings (ideation), Lorraine Sherr, PhD, of the Royal Free and College Medical School in London, and her colleagues enrolled 778 HIV-positive patients from five London health clinics. Roughly half the patients were foreign-born, 67 percent identified as white and 65 percent were gay men.

Sherr and her colleagues asked the study volunteers to complete an extensive survey about their health and psychological well-being. Thirty-one percent of the volunteers reported suicidal ideation in the past seven days. Of those, about 5 percent said the suicidal thoughts were constant, and 11 percent said they were frequent. Heterosexual men were almost 50 percent more likely to report suicidal ideation than heterosexual women or gay men. There was also a trend among the foreign-born to report suicidal ideation more frequently.

The authors call the results “alarming,” and though they acknowledge that their clinic sample may not represent the general population of people with HIV, they argue that suicide prevention should be incorporated into routine care.

Search: suicide, suicidal ideation, Lorraine Sherr, Royal Free and College, London

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Previous Comments:

Dave, Durham, 2008-10-08 11:52:17
Aids has been my downfall, I live in a constant fog due to menengitis, I feel there is alot of descrimination agains HIV/Aids Folks, its never really talked about but you can feel the air about people when they hear you have HIV, at first they are cool like wow what a bummer, then....you never hear from then again...ironic huh? I was diagnosed in 04 Im fortunate in that I get disability from social security which pays about 1600 a month however there is a sense of isolation that comes with it.

Dave, Durham, 2008-10-05 16:35:29
I am a heterosexual man, 45 diagnosed with major depression, I had menengitis and Aids...have never returned to normal...I have daily thoughts of suicide and have tried many different meds for depression, I am at my wits end...my wife stays by my side for some wierd reason, I get ssd but its not enough and its a contsant rollercoaster...I know I have gone over the edge but I still hang on...why? I have no idea...Dave Great Story and says alot about heterosexual men being suicidal...

michael, austin, 2008-08-24 00:19:18
The rejection and social stigma HIV+ people face is barbaric. HIV+ people are treated as disgusting and disposable people. It is near impossible to find a partner when you are HIV+ unless that person is also HIV+. You can't tell your employer or risk termination becouse of the stigma and fear. Many employers won't hire you if you divulge you are HIV+ even tough it's supposed to be covered under the dissability act. Its NOT the illness thats difficult to live with, its society's attitude.

Susan, Boston, 2008-08-22 13:58:51
This doesn't surprise me at all - esp that the majority of suicidal HIV+ folks are white. As a woman with HIV, I find it extremely difficult to be accepted STILL, even here in this world class city. And I've basically been alone because of my diagnosis. Straight men can't or won't bother with it.