Prioritizing Mental Health in the HIV/AIDS Response in Africa

This Perspective article explores the underrecognized intersection between HIV/AIDS and mental health in Africa, where people living with HIV experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Drawing from evidence across Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States, the authors underscore the risks of missed diagnoses and poor treatment adherence linked to mental illness. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups such as women, adolescents, and men who have sex with men. The article promotes scalable solutions, including task sharing, transdiagnostic interventions, and telemedicine to overcome Africa’s mental health workforce shortage. It calls for validated screening tools, targeted treatments beyond psychosocial support, and deeper integration of mental health services into HIV programs to sustain gains made by initiatives like PEPFAR.

This Perspective article explores the underrecognized intersection between HIV/AIDS and mental health in Africa, where people living with HIV experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Drawing from evidence across Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States, the authors underscore the risks of missed diagnoses and poor treatment adherence linked to mental illness. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups such as women, adolescents, and men who have sex with men. The article promotes scalable solutions, including task sharing, transdiagnostic interventions, and telemedicine to overcome Africa’s mental health workforce shortage. It calls for validated screening tools, targeted treatments beyond psychosocial support, and deeper integration of mental health services into HIV programs to sustain gains made by initiatives like PEPFAR.