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mental health AIDS

arrowAbout the Newsletter
     

mental health AIDS is a free, online, quarterly biopsychosocial research update designed to summarize, organize, and facilitate the practical application of the immense and ever-increasing body of peer-reviewed literature on HIV and mental health for front line clinicians.

mental health AIDS is sponsored by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and may be found on the SAMHSA Web site (http://mentalhealthAIDS.samhsa.gov).

The format for mental health AIDS reflects a systems-oriented approach to the understanding of health and disease. In this model, HIV mental health treatment planning considers not only the psychiatric and psychological aspects of infection, but the biological, social, and spiritual aspects as well, so that treatment may be offered from a "biopsychosocial" perspective. Additionally, a "systemic" model of this type reinforces the use of the provider-client relationship in delivering health and mental health care.

The contents of this "Biopsychosocial Update" are organized as follows:

  • HIV Prevention News, with current information on issues of risk and response to a variety of subpopulations disproportionately affected by HIV;

  • HIV Assessment News, focusing on current understandings of the HIV counseling and testing process as well as baseline mental health evaluation for people living with or affected by HIV; and

  • HIV Treatment News, organized within a "biopsychosocial" framework and highlighting current findings on medical, psychiatric, psychological, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of care for people living with or affected by HIV.

The update is interspersed with three types of sidebars:

  • Building Blocks, focusing on news from CMHS/SAMHSA and other governmental sources;

  • Tool Boxes, containing practical information and resources for the provider of HIV-related prevention, assessment, and/or treatment services; and

  • From the Block, highlighting the work of the CMHS/SAMHSA Minority AIDS Initiative Mental Health HIV Services Collaborative (MHHSC) Program. 1

Longstanding readers will notice an enlarged typeface to improve readability as well as increased use of bold-faced type to facilitate the efforts of scanners who read selectively. In addition to its traditional PDF format, mental health AIDS is now also offered in an HTML format to support those who prefer to read directly from the computer screen.

I provide a wealth of information in this update for SAMHSA's diverse constituency. Feel free to explore the contents, taking what will be of use to you in your work. And thank you for the contribution you are making to improve the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.

– Abraham Feingold, Psy.D., Editor
     


mental health AIDS is produced four times a year under Contract No. 280-02-0202 with the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the CMHS, SAMHSA, or HHS.

Summaries appearing in mental health AIDS are presented to promote awareness and understanding of current and continuing research in the area of HIV and mental health. They are not intended for use as the sole basis for clinical treatment nor as a substitute for reading the original research.

mental health AIDS is compiled and edited by Abraham Feingold, Psy.D. Questions and comments may be directed to the Editor at mentalhealthAIDS@aol.com.

Reproduction of mental health AIDS content is encouraged but may not be sold. The "Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services" should be cited as the information source.

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      1 The MHHSC Program, initiated in 2001, is designed to address unmet mental health treatment needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are African-American, Hispanic/Latino and/or from other communities of color. Through this initiative, 20 community-based organizations are expanding their current service capacity to reach and provide coordinated mental health services to individuals with a diagnosed mental illness who are also HIV-positive.
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