HIV and Mental Health
Key Points
- Mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Good mental health helps people make healthy choices, reach personal goals, develop healthy relationships, and cope with stress.
- People with HIV have a higher risk for some mental health conditions than people who do not have HIV, making mental health especially important.
- Mental health conditions are treatable, and people with mental health conditions can recover. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to a trusted health care provider or supportive friends and family for help.
What is mental health?
Mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health affects how people think, feel, and act.
Good mental health helps people make healthy choices, reach personal goals, develop healthy relationships, and cope with stress. In contrast, poor mental health means people find it difficult to manage how they feel, think, act, or cope with stress.
Poor mental health is not the same as mental illness (also known as a mental disorder). Mental illnesses are diagnosed mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders that can vary in severity and may impact different areas of life, including jobs and relationships.
Mental illnesses include many different conditions, such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders (such as depression), eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia.
A person can have poor mental health and not have a diagnosed mental illness. Likewise, a person with a mental illness can still enjoy good mental well-being. Although there are some differences between poor mental health and mental illnesses, they will be referred to collectively as mental health conditions throughout this fact sheet.
For people with HIV, managing mental health can help them stick to an HIV medicine schedule and attend appointments with health care providers. Consistently taking HIV medicines and keeping medical appointments helps people with HIV live long, healthy lives.
Are people with HIV at risk for mental health conditions?
Mental health conditions are common in the United States. Anyone can experience poor mental health or a mental illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), more than one in five American adults lived with a mental illness in 2022.
People with HIV may be more likely to experience some mental health conditions. For example, people with HIV are about two to three times as likely to experience depression as people without HIV.
It is important to remember that mental health conditions are treatable and that people can recover from poor mental health.
What can cause mental health conditions in people with HIV?
The following factors can increase the risk of mental health conditions in anyone, regardless of HIV status:
- Major life changes, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a job
- Negative life experiences, such as abuse or trauma
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- A family history of mental health conditions
In addition to these factors, the stress of having a medical condition like HIV may also negatively affect a person's mental health. Situations that can contribute to mental health conditions in people with HIV include:
- Difficulty in telling others about an HIV diagnosis
- Stigma and discrimination associated with HIV
- Loss of social support and isolation
- Difficulty in getting mental health services
Both HIV and related opportunistic infections can affect the brain and the rest of the nervous system. This may lead to changes in how a person thinks and behaves.
In addition, some medicines used to treat HIV may have side effects that affect a person's mental health. For example, the use of doravirine has been linked to depression and sleep disturbances in some people.
However, side effects from HIV medicines that affect mental health can usually be fixed by changing HIV medicines. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you think your HIV medicine is affecting your mental health. Always speak to your health care provider before you stop taking prescribed medicines.
What are the warning signs of a mental health condition?
Changes in how a person feels or acts can be a warning sign of a mental health condition. For example, potential signs of mental health conditions can include:
- Losing interest in activities that are usually enjoyable
- Experiencing persistent sadness or feeling empty
- Feeling anxious or stressed
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Constant worrying
- Feeling restless or on edge
- Having extreme mood swings
If you have any signs of a mental health condition, it is important to get help. You can reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline for immediate help.
What should people with HIV do if they need help for a mental health condition?
People with HIV can talk to their health care provider about how they are feeling. They can also tell their health care provider if they are having any problems with drugs or alcohol, which can also impact mental health.
Some HIV clinics offer mental health services, which can make it easier to get necessary support. In most cases, your HIV care team can confirm if this is an option for you. The HIVinfo Community Resources for People With HIV fact sheet also provides links to support services.
Health care providers will consider whether any HIV medicines may be affecting the person’s mental health. They can also help people with HIV find a mental health care provider, such as a psychiatrist or therapist.
Here are additional ways that people with HIV can improve their mental health:
- Join a support group
- Try meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to relax
- Get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and stay physically active
- Connect with others, including friends, family, and community members
- Create realistic life goals to build a sense of accomplishment
- Seek out programs that can help with basic needs, such as medicine costs, housing, or food
To find mental health treatment services, use these resources from NIMH and SAMHSA.
This fact sheet is based on information from the following sources:
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
From Medline Plus:
From NIMH:
From SAMHSA:
From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
From the World Health Organization:
Also see the HIV Source collection of HIV links and resources.