HIV and Mental Health in Northern Ireland

Today is World Mental Health Day, a day to reflect on how mental health awareness has changed over the years consider what more we can all do, as a society for those who live with mental health issues. According to statistics, around 20% of the Northern Ireland population have or have had a mental health problem in their lives, and …

#HumansofHIV – Paula Bradley MLA

In this series, Positive Life tells the story of the people who are part of the wider HIV community and who advocate for those living with and affected by HIV in Northern Ireland. This month we hear from Paula Bradley MLA, former Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee, DUP Health Spokesperson and policy maker who has been a …

Gareth Thomas and HIV image perceptions

As seen across the media last weekend, former Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas took charge of sharing the fact that he has been living with HIV for a number of years. Following on from this, the outpouring of support for Gareth was outstanding from far and wide including members of the Royal family and sports stars. While this was an …

HIV Ageing Awareness Day

Today is National HIV Ageing Awareness Day – a day to celebrate and reflect on the rising number of people who are living long and full lives with HIV. One of the many myths surrounding HIV is that it is a life sentence which will at best completely alter how you live your life and at worst, will kill you. …

We need to talk about Stigma

One of most damaging parts of an HIV diagnosis is something that isn’t talked about much. The stigma around HIV means that many people become socially isolated. Some feel like once they have been diagnosed, they aren’t allowed to have personal or intimate relationships and find themselves with crippling loneliness which can lead to depression and other mental health problems. …

#HumansofHIV – Joan Anderson

In this series, Positive Life tells the story of the people involved in providing care for those living with and affected by HIV in Northern Ireland. This month we hear from Joan Anderson, a complimentary therapist who works at Positive Life one day a week, providing massages and other therapies to people living with HIV. “I try to create a …

GSK IMPACT Award Video

Last month, Positive Life won a GSK Impact Award for our work with people affected by and living with HIV in Northern Ireland. They made a short video about us which is now on our homepage and which you can watch below:

Positive Life wins big in London

The Science Museum in London has over 300,000 items, attracts 3.3 million visitors every year and on the 16 May it played host to the GSK IMPACT Awards. The awards are a national programme that recognise and reward the best small and medium sized charities that are doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing in communities across the …

Happy Valentine’s day and happy sexual health week 2019!

In Northern Ireland we really struggle to talk openly about sex and sexual health. There is a culture of embarrassment and shame about it which makes it easier to just avoid talking about sex and sexual health altogether. I call it the Northern Ireland effect – it’s founded in our conservative and often faith based beliefs around all things sexy!. …

Medical students join us to learn about the human impact of HIV diagnoses

For the past 3 weeks we’ve had the pleasure of having James and Leah join the team at Positive Life to gain an understanding of what it’s really like to live with HIV in 2019. Having studied Medicine at Queen’s University for the past 3 years, they have been taught how to diagnose HIV and know the different treatment options …