mothers2mothers (m2m) is delighted to have contributed to the World Health Organization’s latest technical brief on “Integrating psychosocial interventions and support into HIV services for adolescents and young adults”.  

Adolescence (10-19 years old) is a time of change and evolution, which can come with psychosocial and mental health challenges. This is especially true for adolescents and young adults living with HIV, for whom there has been a well-established link between mental health and HIV outcomes. Their experience of living with HIV and managing a chronic illness, along with enduring stigma and discrimination, can often lead to additional mental health needs. 

A Mentor Mother educating adolescents in her community on vital health issues

m2m’s 22 years experience of training and employing nearly 12,000 local women living with HIV as Mentor Mothers who provide life-saving health education, psychosocial support, and services to adolescents and young people in their community is testament to what can be achieved when these interventions are successfully integrated within health services. Mentor Mothers use their experiences overcoming challenges in their own lives and their deep understanding of their communities to create a support network for the young people they work with. Through this work, m2m has been able to reach 51% more adolescents in 2021, compared to 2020.  

This technical brief therefore outlines the importance and evidence of implementing psychosocial interventions to optimise HIV outcomes and support mental health for adolescents and young people living with HIV, as well as a roadmap on how best to integrate mental health and HIV services for this population group going forward.  

Click here to learn more about the report’s full recommendations.