Positively: National Campaign

WellMe’s health promotion campaign, Positively: Mental Health and HIV/AIDS, seeks to educate the general public and those living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers about the continued need for prevention efforts – that "treatment" does not mean "cure" -- and the critical need for mental health support for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in relation to maintaining combination drug regimens.

At this time, perhaps more than any other in the history of HIV/AIDS, the impact of the disease on mental health may be the determining factor for survival. In the past several years, widening and frequently successful use of recently developed drugs and drug combinations has created a new culture of recovery and control of symptoms for many people living with HIV/AIDS. Yet, the mental health component of treatment is still often neglected. This is especially true in rural areas where clinical services for people living with HIV and AIDS are still far behind those in urban settings.

This campaign uses a variety of media tools and outreach activities to reach target audiences and deliver educational and motivational messages about the importance of mental health support and treatment to people with HIV/AIDS. This project was supported by many regional and national organizations including the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychological Association’s Office on AIDS, American Public Television, and Roche Pharmaceuticals.