Trainings

One of the main expert centre activities is organizing trainings in order to educate change agents in mental health aspects of HIV and AIDS, including prevention.

The many different specialists working in HIV and AIDS (including psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers, harm reduction workers, peer educators and addiction therapists) need wide and sound knowledge of both biomedical and psychosocial issues in order to give their clients good information on such issues as assessing infection risk, explaining myths, dealing with doubts and concerns, and understanding their needs and where they can be referred for help. On the other hand it is equally important that health and social care personnel treating PLHA in other settings (including doctors, nurses, general practitioners, social workers and others) understand the psychological and psychiatric aspects in order to provide better quality care.

The training curriculum consists of four training modules:

1. Introduction to mental health and HIV/AIDS
2. Supporting people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) who have special needs
3. Social, personal and self-support for PLHIV
4. Capacity building for change agents

 All participants are encouraged to take part in all four training modules. Teaching and learning methods are  innovative for participants although they have basic knowledge.
Introductory module focuses on the mental health of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). The context is established by exploring the links between health and society in the region, offering a public health perspective that should underpin a full understanding of HIV/AIDS and mental health. It provides general information on mental disorders and illnesses in relation to HIV/AIDS as well as information on medical, psychosocial and other aspects of HIV/AIDS (including ethical and legal concerns) and their impact on psychological and spiritual health. Goals of the module is to enhance medical, psychological, social and epidemiological knowledge of HIV/AIDS and mental health, and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), by increasing the number of professionals and other experts able to provide effective treatment and support to PLHIV who have mental health problems.

For more informations please contact   jstojanovski@ian.org.rs. 

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