HIV is no longer the life-threatening disease it once was, but people living with it still benefit from strong social and emotional support.
At a time when digital interactions have become the social norm, online support groups offer one of the best ways to meet others living with HIV in a safe, open environment.
POZ Community Forum
POZ Community Forumsis one of the largest and longest-running discussion boards for people living with HIV in the United States.
The POZ Forums discussion boards are clearly laid out and monitored 24/7, so that abuses common in other forums (such as advertising andquack medicine) are avoided. The admins strongly encourage users to provide the full citation of any medical claims made, ideally with the website address so that members are not led astray.
When registered, you can opt to receive or send private messages. If you’re interested in meeting and dating others with HIV, POZ offers a separatedating site.
The Well Project
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women account for 18% of all new HIV infections in the U.S., while women of color represent approximately 78% of new infections amongst all women.
The Well Projectis a nonprofit organization dedicated to the needs of women and girls living with HIV. The organization aims to increase health literacy and peer-to-peersupportthrough community boards, forums, and other features to registered members for free. Users can opt to either create a profile page (with a photo and personal details) or remain anonymous.
Additionally, the Well Project maintains two blogs: the English-languageA Girl Like Meand the Spanish-languageUna Chica Como Yo.
THRIVE SS
The organization’s programs are includesocial events, such as BYOB brunches and potlucks, workshops formen over 50, and support groups for young black men. There are also online blogs, peer support events, and live-streamed webinars for those unable to attend in-person events.
Central to the THRIVE SS support model is something it calls “Judy Support,” a term used to describe cultural self-acceptance and the rejection of homophobia and racism.
THRIVE SS is free, but it asks members to donate if they can afford to do so.
Poz Place
As a private Facebook group, Poz Place requires registration and an agreement to adhere to community rules. This not only ensures confidentiality but provides users with an open, honest, and non-judgmental environment.
With nearly 6,000 registered members, Poz Place is among the largest private support groups on Facebook. As a member, you can expect to see anywhere from 5 to 10 posts per day and a quick reply to any questions you may have about HIV.
TherapyTribe HIV/AIDS Tribe
TherapyTribeis a free online wellness community that offers people with specific support needs a place to connect safely and confidentially. Among the eight major groups listed on the website is an HIV/AIDS Tribe for people in search of peer-to-peer support from others living with the disease.
Peer-to-peer support is strong in the HIV/AIDS portal with more than 12,000 registered users who offer words of support or encouragement whenever times get rough. And that’s no small thing. There is a dedicated forum and chat room, along with wellness challenges.
You can also send and receive messages from your mobile device, create a circle of friends among registered users, and even start a blog to share with your social network.
Positive PeersIn the United States, roughly one in five new HIV infections occurs in people under the age of 25, of whom only 63% are able to sustain an undetectable viral load while on therapeutic medications.Addressing the barriers to treatment and care in young people with HIV is different from those in older adults. Not only do attitudes and social pressures differ, but so do the ways in which younger people communicate.Positive Peers, a private support app, is designed specifically for teens and young adults living with HIV.This 24/7 support system delivers all of the features mobile users demand: community forums, private chats, group chats, health and wellness blogs from other young people with HIV, medication refill reminders, an appointment calendar with automated reminders, as well as blood test charts to record, track, and share your results. There also are meditation videos to help reduce stress and a crisis hotline for those in need of one-on-one support.Positive Peers is free, but it’s only available for people between the ages of 13 and 34. To get the app, you must first provide a scanned copy of valid ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate) and confirmation of your diagnosis (such as an HIV test, a copy of your viral load and CD4 count, or a signed release from your doctor).
Positive Peers
In the United States, roughly one in five new HIV infections occurs in people under the age of 25, of whom only 63% are able to sustain an undetectable viral load while on therapeutic medications.
Addressing the barriers to treatment and care in young people with HIV is different from those in older adults. Not only do attitudes and social pressures differ, but so do the ways in which younger people communicate.Positive Peers, a private support app, is designed specifically for teens and young adults living with HIV.
This 24/7 support system delivers all of the features mobile users demand: community forums, private chats, group chats, health and wellness blogs from other young people with HIV, medication refill reminders, an appointment calendar with automated reminders, as well as blood test charts to record, track, and share your results. There also are meditation videos to help reduce stress and a crisis hotline for those in need of one-on-one support.
Positive Peers is free, but it’s only available for people between the ages of 13 and 34. To get the app, you must first provide a scanned copy of valid ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate) and confirmation of your diagnosis (such as an HIV test, a copy of your viral load and CD4 count, or a signed release from your doctor).
myHIVteam
The myHIVteam app asks registrants to provide details about their diagnosis (including current symptoms and the date of the initial diagnosis) along with a list of medications and side effects.
In addition, the myHIVteam app allows you to build teams, post updates about yourself, and send and receive private or group messages. Because people on myHIVteam tend to be more open about their status, the response is often more helpful and detailed than you might find on a community board.
Frequently Asked Questions
HIV support groups are vital for many people living with HIV, providing them the means to share their experiences, seek advice and referrals, and receive support from others who fully understand what they are going through.While many people will turn to in-person HIV support groups, LGBTQ+ community centers, and public health clinics - all are great resources.
HIV support groups are vital for many people living with HIV, providing them the means to share their experiences, seek advice and referrals, and receive support from others who fully understand what they are going through.
While many people will turn to in-person HIV support groups, LGBTQ+ community centers, and public health clinics - all are great resources.
In addition to offering comfort, HIV support groups aim to overcome the numerous barriers that keep people from accessing care and treatment or taking their medications each and every day as needed. Those challenges may include emotional issues like depression or the fear of abandonment or structural problems, such as accessing affordable treatment, care, or housing.Moreover, many online groups—including those on Facebook—are designed for people of specific ages or cultural identities, providing them the means to communicate in the “same language.”
In addition to offering comfort, HIV support groups aim to overcome the numerous barriers that keep people from accessing care and treatment or taking their medications each and every day as needed. Those challenges may include emotional issues like depression or the fear of abandonment or structural problems, such as accessing affordable treatment, care, or housing.
Moreover, many online groups—including those on Facebook—are designed for people of specific ages or cultural identities, providing them the means to communicate in the “same language.”
The best online support groups aim to replicate the same features of traditional, in-person support groups: a safe, non-judgmental environment, confidentiality and strict privacy rules, and some level of facilitation to avoid abusive interactions and the spread of misinformation.Choosing the group that’s right for you depends on your individual needs. It may be that you are struggling to cope, are seeking advice or education, or simply desire a sense of community among others like you. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone.
The best online support groups aim to replicate the same features of traditional, in-person support groups: a safe, non-judgmental environment, confidentiality and strict privacy rules, and some level of facilitation to avoid abusive interactions and the spread of misinformation.
Choosing the group that’s right for you depends on your individual needs. It may be that you are struggling to cope, are seeking advice or education, or simply desire a sense of community among others like you. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone.
Yes. In the U.S., men who have sex with men (MSM) account for around 69% of all new infections.Because of this, there is greater number of HIV support groups addressing the needs of gay and bisexual men in general. Statistics like these highlight the need for support groups to address the needs of underserved, high-risk populations, including people of color, youth, women, and transgender people.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV Surveillance Report, 2019; 2021; 32.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fast facts: HIV and gay and bisexual men.
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