“I have hope for the first time (since diagnosis). It feels less traumatic. They really understood me.”

Brownlee Patient

 Many people have questions surrounding their diagnosis, treatment or other issues related to living with HIV. Unless they know someone else living with HIV they often struggle to speak to someone who really understands things from their perspective.

The Peer Support Project provides a confidential environment for one HIV positive individual to meet with another more experienced HIV patient, who will listen to your concerns and fears and share what it’s like living positively.

The service is open to all current HIV positive patients in NHSGGC, regardless of how long they have been diagnosed, and who could benefit from speaking to another person living with HIV. This could be related to issues such as; shock of diagnosis, stigma, relationships, disclosure, work, social isolation, beginning treatment and other constraints or questions a person might have related to living with HIV.

“I was cynical…I did not expect the impact meeting the peer has had. It has changed my outlook totally.”

Brownlee Patient

If you’d like to access Peer Support or find out more about the service you can call or email us at Brownleehiv@ggc.scot.nhs.uk. Alternatively you can ask any member of staff when you are next at the Brownlee.