Over the past decade, public health experts have become alarmed about the spread of HIV/AIDS among people with serious mental disorders (SMD). Mental health professionals, however, have been slow to respond to this emerging epidemic. The Indiana Mental Health Services and HIV Risk Study is exploring the HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and clinical experiences of mental health professionals across different types of mental health treatment programs. Questionnaires were distributed to the clinical staff of two state psychiatric hospitals and two community mental health centers. The survey probed staff members' perceptions of the nature and extent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among people with SMD and their clinical experiences and knowledge regarding sex and HIV/AIDS. The findings indicate that the majority of clinicians are concerned about the transmission of HIV among their clients with SMD. However, staff members also report only limited clinical knowledge of HIV or training in HIV prevention. They further perceive the clinical culture of their facilities as being sex negative and largely unsupportive of dealing with the HIV-prevention and sexuality-related needs of clients with SMD. In sum, the findings indicate that the public mental health system may not be well prepared to respond to the emerging epidemic. Public health and mental health policy makers should expand efforts to improve the clinical attitudes and skills of staff in both community and hospital mental health treatment programs.
Learning Objectives: 1) Describe the attitudes and views of public mental health professionals on the HIV epidemic among people with serious mental disorders. 2) Assess the readiness of public mental health professionals in state hospitals and community mental health centers to respond to the emerging HIV epidemic among people with serious mental disorders. 3) Identify areas where HIV/AIDS training could enhance mental health treatment.
Keywords: Mental Illness, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None/NA
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.