Integration of women's community-led mental health services into the HIV response in
the EECA region

KEY MESSAGES:

1. INTEGRATION OF HIV AND MENTAL HEALTH

Integrating gender-responsive and gender-transformative HIV and mental health strategies, guidelines, services and programs is a critical need and an effective approach to achieve global and country-level goals in the HIV and mental health response.

2. COMMUNITY-BASED AND LED SERVICES

Communities help reduce stigma, discrimination and social exclusion faced by people with mental illness and people living with HIV. Meaningful community involvement in the development of policies and interventions, as well as the direct delivery of integrated services, contribute to the successful integration of HIV and mental health.

3. SUPPORT FOR ACTIVISTS

Special efforts and resources are needed to avoid such a situation where women help others to their own detriment. These efforts should focus on sustaining activism, including education, self-care skills, mental health screening tools, safe spaces, mental health mobilization and advocacy for female activists.

4. ACCESS TO PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC AND PSYCHIATRIC CARE

The design and delivery of mental health services in programs often comes down to self-help groups and psychological counseling. However, in order to ensure a comprehensive access, it is necessary to develop professional psychotherapy and mental health care programs that are provided by friendly specialists and address unmet mental health needs in the HIV response, as well as to develop new partnerships with patient communities of people living with mental disorders and professionals who provide them with assistance.

Source:https://ewna.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ewna_mental-health-statement_2022_eng.pdf