Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ALMOST ONE IN five HIV positive people in Ireland say they have felt suicidal in the last year.
The HIV in Ireland survey 2017, which will launch this morning, has found that stigma continues to have a significant impact on people living with the condition in this country.
Being open about their diagnosis was a huge concern to HIV positive people in Ireland, the survey found, as 61% of respondents reported not disclosing their status to one or more people for fear of being judged or treated differently.
HIV diagnoses have increased by 35% since 2011 in Ireland. Along with the 512 new diagnoses in 2016, a total of 485 people were diagnosed in Ireland in 2015.
Shame and rejection
88% of people living with HIV agreed that some members of the general population believe living with the condition is shameful.
In the previous year, 61% of respondents feared being rejected in a personal relationship as a consequence of their HIV status, and 32% had experienced such rejection.
Meanwhile, 55% feared being outed as HIV positive by other people, and to a lesser extent, 17% of people fear violent attacks if they disclosed their diagnosis.
Furthermore, 54% of respondents were single compared to 38% in the general population.
The report included a number of testimonies from people living with HIV.
“It can leave you lonely and it is very hard to discuss with some people. I blame it for the fact that I’m single and worry about old age – an odd thing for someone my [young] age,” one person said.
“I am always wary of my status being found out, but the stigma, I believe, is worse. I think I am hardest on myself. I am most angry at myself at this late stage in life and I hate myself for it. I have attempted to overdose, and I spent a week in hospital, soon after diagnosis,” another said.
17% of people living with HIV say they have felt suicidal in the last year. This compares to the national average of 4%.
“This survey is of crucial importance in highlighting the need for policymakers and politicians to understand the impact that HIV-related stigma is having on people living with the condition,” Niall Mulligan, executive director of HIV Ireland, who commissioned the report, said.
“It’s time to open our eyes to the damage HIV-related stigma is having on people’s lives.”
HIV Ireland works to improve, through a range of support services, conditions for people living with HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis in Ireland.
Misinformed attitudes
The survey was undertaken to identify levels of knowledge and attitudes to HIV, within the whole population, as well as recording the experiences of people living with HIV.
Some 1,013 people responded to the general survey and 168 people responded to the survey specifically for people living with HIV.
Among the general population, the research found various degrees of knowledge about HIV.
One in five 18 to 24-year-olds incorrectly thought HIV can be passed from person to person through the sharing of a public toilet seat, compared to 10% of those over 24.
24% of people incorrectly believed that HIV can be transmitted through kissing, while 11% wrongly thought it could be transmitted through coughing or sneezing.
One in 10 people said they wouldn’t feel comfortable working with a colleague who was HIV positive.
“Negative or misinformed attitudes to HIV, and towards people living with HIV, can create obstacles for people getting tested. UNAIDS estimates that across Europe, 15% of people living with HIV aren’t aware of their condition,” Mulligan said.
It is crucial that we remove as many barriers as possible to people getting tested. Stigma is one of those barriers.
HIV protection in Ireland
The government has provided funding to the KnowHow Rapid Testing scheme, a HIV testing initiative in pubs and clubs in Ireland, as part of the National Sexual Health Strategy.
Minister of State at the Department of Health Catherine Byrne will open HIV Ireland’s 30th anniversary national conference today.
Speaking ahead of the event, she said: ”The government – through the HSE – continues to provide annual funding to HIV Ireland for the important work that it undertakes in the areas of support for people living with HIV and for the promotion of sexual health in the general population.”
Despite this, a groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug – which has been recommended by the World Health Organisation – has yet to be made available through the HSE general medical services scheme (GMS).
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-daily medication that can significantly reduce the risk of infection among HIV-negative people at high risk.
Truvada, a PrEP medication, is only available to buy on prescription at a price of over €400 a month in Ireland.
The HSE is currently conducting an assessment of whether it would be cost-effective for it to cover the drug. However, that assessment cannot continue until Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of Truvada, makes a formal application to the HSE. This application has yet to be received.
A study conducted under the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, published on 26 April, estimated that 2,683 Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) are at substantial risk of contracting HIV and would benefit from the introduction of discounted PrEP medication.
“The government urgently needs to provide additional resources within the areas of HIV prevention, education, community testing, counselling, medication and human rights advocacy,” Mulligan said.
The one-day HIV Ireland conference taking place today will explore the history of HIV, stigma and social inclusion, homelessness, sex work, the LGBT community, the migrant community, and people living with HIV in Ireland since 1987.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The more of life I see the more I realise that how our life’s pans out is pot luck in some cases. One bad decision or bit of bad luck could mean the difference between having a relatively good & happy life or maybe being like so many unfortunate people, with no place to call home, there but for the Grace of God (or whoever) go I.
I thought Eamon was genuine. It was a nice thing to say. A society is judged by how it takes care of the less fortunate. The Dutch put it succinctly. They distinguish between rich countries (eg. Usa) and what they call “welvarend samenleving” = “well sailing society”. Sweden and Denmark suscribe also to this concept. The idea is when the vast majority are doing well it is better than a small number doing exceedingly well. Given the strength of the Dutch Economy they would appear to be correct.
Large cities like Dublin should take a leaf out of the book used in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. U cannot buy the land under ur house. U get a 99 year lease called “erfpacht”. This eliminates land speculation. Otherwise all property in A’dam, R’dam, the Hague would be impossible to buy for normal people. The Council Controls the land. Construction Companies bid for projects, build them but make no money from land speculation. Result: stable property prices=good.
He’s a spoofer the best of times, certainly regarding football. But his passion and empathy is genuine and sincere in my opinion anyway
Ah Christmas. Half-cut celebrities caring about the homeless over pints in Dublin’s finest pubs.
When you put it like that…
Can’t get decent Coke in this town.
We could have a great world if those who earned the most volunteered the most aid and shelter.
What have you done to assist?
campaigned and donated albeit sparingly. many with money are the ones who are all talk..
Fair play, people are very begrudging of people with a few Bob though and think they should donate it all and do nothing themselves.
The difference being I wouldnt begrudge those who made it honestly or try to live generously but the wealth divide is a poison and its not going to change.
@ Sean Domhnall, by virtue of the fact that those people who earn the most also pay the most taxes, surely that means that proportionately they are actually contributing most to the country’s coffers indirectly?
Sean and those who earn the most money have worked their asses off to get to where they are. There is always going to be a wealth devise. Those who go to collage, get jobs and take risks will be awarded financially. These people are also employers. Then you have those who sit on the dole so the divide will always be there.
Hey phil… can I ask which category you belong to?
Phil. Not in agreement with you, the Government get paid a Mountain of money and look at the state of the Country. But if you are happy……..
Phil, what about those that bust their asses their entire lives just to break even? What do you make of them?
Eh Phil firstly there are a lot of enormously wealthy people who never went to college. Secondly wealthy people rarely risk their own money, they risk other peoples money. Yes they do get jobs so one out of three not bad.
Surely your not so innocent as to believe that?
eh Mary, Phil if you’ll believe that spin undiluted you’ll believe anything. Eyes of the Irish are finally open there’s no sense in talking fair tax systems now, we know who benefits from this republic. Btw Plenty who earn the most money exploited many to get where they are.
I’ll give you Alan Kellys number.
Of course it’s possible but it’s never going to happen……. The genuine homeless who are homeless through no fault of their own need a break….. But there are homeless people that are on the streets because they drank the rent or stuck it in there arm or just are utter s c u m who were a nightmare to live next door to … let them rot .
Wind. there but for the grace God go I and all that.
Like a Miss World contestant. World Peace also, Eamo?
@ Patrick Hurley, I find your comment very insensitive. Eamon seems very genuine in his wish. Also wouldn’t world peace be wonderful if it was ever to happen? Anything that lessens the pain and suffering some of our fellow human beings have to endure can surely only be a good thing?
It’s empty rhetoric, Mary. Like Pat Kenny and his one night amongst the poor homeless souls. It makes Eamonn feel better to say that he cares about this. It doesn’t help the homeless one iota.
BREAKING NEWS… Mary finds Mr Hurley “very insensitive”..
Mary.
You need to relax.
Some people are just waiting to be offended.
i used to admire Eamon (past tense)
he told the unpopular truth about Michelle Smith
he told the unpopular truth about Bertie
then he told us to vote for Martin McGuinness
Pat, Mary is right. Eamon is genuine even he has not the answers. The answer is an erfpacht system for Dublin City as I described above. Large cities in Europe had this problem 100 years ago and this was the standard solution in many countries incl. Holland and Germany.
Back in 1996, Eamonn was earning over 100k punts from the Sindo. That was serious cheddar back then.
On serious lids in RTE as well. 350k according to the figures in 2012.
Can’t handle his drink
BAAAAAAAAA!!! You clowns would comment on anything
Stephen” buy my book” ferris…. Scraping the barrel….was Timmy Bowe not available for once to flog “his” designs?
Poor Eamon has a lot of shame but using the airways and the homeless as a confessional won’t help him or the homeless.
Hilarious…NOT !!!!
on this point he is dead right. if there was a will to do something this could be sorted rather easily.
rather politicians on all sides have turned this issue into a political football………..the human cost is being ignored. endas shameful photo op recently or the portocabins that cost more than building a house…………never mind getting fas student to renovate and reopen existing boarded homes.
its a f###ing joke/
Could be good telly.
Pandora’s box more like? Switch it on over Christmas, stare at it and then go to bed depressed?
Celebrity Pub Crawl..!!! Honest to goodness, what will they think of next???
Eamonn Dunphy is an honest genuine Man, he cares and it shows.
Eamonn i wish you and your Family a very Happy Christmas, and i for one hope your wish comes true .
A pint of rum please lol.
Some say this guy Dunphy he,s a clown others might say he,s a shambles but I think he,s real gent well said Eamo merry christmas
Good man Eamo ❤feeling the love
Eamon gets weepy at the drop of a hat
have your say