For individuals who have decided to disclose their HIV status to adult members of their family, friends, partners or their workplace we can offer tailored advice and support. This includes 1:1 time to talk with staff about their concerns and thoughts about the process.
We can also organise peer support to enable people to talk to others who have been through similar experiences. In addition we cover disclosure issues in structured group workshops on a regular basis.
Family
Body & Soul knows that HIV can affect the whole family, not just one individual. If family members know about the HIV status of someone close to them they can often find out more about the facts, offer emotional support and practical help if needed.
Disclosure can also help to build trust within family relationships. We know that talking about HIV is complex, often difficult and can bring a variety of reactions from family members. We are here to support individuals with their particular needs, enable the family to cope with the effects of diagnosis and look to the future together. We can register immediate family members at Body & Soul and offer more in depth support.
Friends
Sometimes friends can be like family, particularly if people don’t have family close by to support them. Friends can be uplifting and people to have fun with, which is very important but it’s hard if you have to keep an important secret from a close friend. If members choose to disclose their HIV status to their friends we can work with them through that process and sometimes register a close friend with Body & Soul, if they are the main source of support for that individual.
Partners
Choosing when and how to disclose to sexual partners about HIV can be difficult. People often have many questions or worries that they need to discuss, “When is the right time to tell them?” “Do I have to tell ever partner I have?” “Will they reject me, and if so how will I cope?” “How do I tell them?”. Members at Body & Soul have found that it helps a great deal to talk to other people living with HIV about this, to gain the benefit of their experiences. We also run regular group sessions on disclosure to partners and can offer 1:1 support. People living with HIV should protect themselves and others and be aware of the law in the UK in relation to HIV transmission.
Work
People living with HIV are not legally required to disclose their HIV status as there are no transmission risks in the workplace. However, it can be very helpful
for your employer to know about your health needs. Employers should have policies in place to ensure equal opportunities and anti discriminatory practice. If individuals choose to disclose their status, their employers are obliged to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure they are able to manage their health well and attend hospital appointments.
People living with HIV are protected against discrimination and should seek professional advice if they think they have been a victim of discrimination. Following a change in legislation in 2010 employers are not permitted to ask potential employees to fill in a pre employment ‘health questionnaire’ before a formal job offer is made. This will benefit people living with HIV and make it easier to prove if discrimination has taken place. Employers and people living with HIV people should refer to the Equality Act 2010 (which includes Disability Equality Duty).
