What next?: Support & information: Groups and services

There's a variety of support groups and services for people living with HIV.

Services vary across the UK, so we’ve included links to different organisations around the country, so you can find out what's available near you.

Types of group and service

Newly diagnosed groups and courses

These groups provide a safe environment where men who've recently been told they’re HIV positive can offer emotional and practical support to each other. Discussion covers issues such as telling other people, treatment, living healthily, sex and relationships, as well as the emotional impact of being diagnosed HIV positive. Importantly, you’ll get a chance to meet others going through the same thing.

Positive self-management and living well courses

Positive self-management and living well courses are led by trained facilitators who are also living with HIV. They’re about building the skills we need to manage our health and lead active and fulfilling lives.

The courses involve lots of practical exercises on topics such as effective communication, evaluating symptoms and techniques for dealing with problems like fear, isolation and frustration. If you’ve received your test result very recently, it would be worth talking to the course leader first before signing up.

Community support (‘buddying’)

You can ask for someone to support you while you’re going through difficult times. The service is different from counselling, as the support worker probably won’t be a trained counsellor. A support worker is someone you can talk things through with, who won’t be judgemental and who can offer you advice and help you out with any practical issues.

HIV positive gay men’s peer support groups

As well as support groups for people who are newly diagnosed, there are groups for gay men who have been living with HIV for any length of time. Again, these provide a safe space to talk through issues with other positive men and to give and receive mutual support.

Support for HIV positive black and ethnic minority gay men

A few organisations run support groups specifically for black, ethnic minority or immigrant, gay men. These give you a chance to meet other men who will have an understanding of any issues specific to your culture or religion.

Support for HIV negative partners

Some organisations have support groups for HIV negative partners. These offer a chance for partners to meet other men in similar relationships to discuss some of the issues that are raised by being in a magnetic relationship and to provide peer support.

Health support services and health trainers

Some HIV organisations run services that help people living with HIV to increase their knowledge about how the virus affects the body and about how treatments work, and to gain more skills in managing HIV. Support and information is offered either through one to one sessions or in groups.

Finding a suitable group

Terrence Higgins Trust

Offers a wide range of different support services around the country. To find something suitable for you, call THT Direct on 0845 1221 200.

www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/ourservices

Eddystone Trust

Runs support services for men in Devon and Cornwall.

www.eddystone.org.uk

George House Trust

Based in Manchester, George House Trust runs services for people with HIV across the northwest of England.

www.ght.org.uk

GMFA

A London-based gay men’s health organisation which runs workshops covering a range of issues, including HIV transmission and harm reduction and smoking cessation.

www.gmfa.org.uk