28 January 2020

Dr Pepe Catalan, a Psychiatrist at CNWL, has helped produced a new booklet titled 'HIV, mental health and emotional wellbeing'

Dr Catalan was the liaison consultant at South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre for 25 years, providing services to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, the centre with the largest cohort of HIV patients. Apart from clinical work, he did a lot of research and published many papers. He has an honorary contract with CNWL, and continues to write and research, and is involved with several HIV charites, like NAM, the publishers of this booklet.

The booklet explains the support options for people living with HIV who are experiencing mental health challenges, including:

  • Dealing with mental health problems
  • Professional support (understanding the different professions involved in mental health support)
  • Peer support
  • Naming and understanding mental health problems (including emotional distress, anxiety, depression, treatment for depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairment, mania, mood and mental health side effects of HIV treatment)
  • Looking after your emotional and mental health
  • Supporting somebody with emotional or mental health problems
  • Where to go for emotional and mental health advice and support.

UK-based HIV and GUM clinics can order copies, as well as our other booklets and leaflets in the series 'The basics', through this online portal as part of their patient information subscription.

To find out if your clinic is registered or for information on joining the scheme, please email info@nam.org.uk or call 020 3727 0123.