Support services

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Support services

HIV treatment is highly effective in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV. Now, with U=U (undetectable = untransmittable), treatment is also an effective way of preventing passing on HIV to partners.

YorSexualHealth (YSH) runs a free and confidential support service for people living with HIV and their partners and carers in York and North Yorkshire.

We can support you with:

Self-management of your physical and mental health
Assistance with benefits and getting back into work or education
Peer support and group support opportunities
Symptoms management

You can be referred to the service by a member of YSH staff or you can also fill in our self-referral form or email us at yhs-tr.socialsupport@nhs.net for more information.

You will be asked on arrival at clinic if you consent for our wellbeing and support team to contact you following your appointment to discuss support needs. If you would prefer to discuss this with the clinical team instead, please do not hesitate to do so.

The wellbeing and support team run HIV peer support groups online and in person, for you to discuss issues and share experiences with others. If this may be of interest, please speak to the clinical team or the wellbeing and support team for more details and the next dates.

Upcoming HIV support group sessions:

If you would like to attend a group support session email yhs-tr.socialsupport@nhs.net for more information.

If you have any questions please contact us: email yhs-tr.socialsupport@nhs.net or call 01904 725423 for more info on available support.

There are other services you can also access for support:

Positively UK https://positvelyuk.org
Terrence Higgins Trust https://www.tht.org.uk/our-services/online-services
HiVitality (originally National Long Term Survivors Group): https://hivitality.org.uk
Positively UK run a helpline. Call 020 7713 0444

For further information on living with HIV and U=U you can visit:

i-base http://i-base.info/u-equals-u-qa/
Terence Higgins Trust https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv-and-sexual-health/living-well-hiv
Avert https://www.avert.org/living-with-hiv/newly-diagnosed

Coco's story- Living with HIV:

Coco is living with HIV and was diagnosed late. Watch this video to listen to her story and hear about the importance of testing for HIV.

Latest posts from YorSexualHealth

@YorSexualHealth

21st December 2024

Our opening hours are slightly different during the festive period, so please plan ahead if you need sexual healthcare. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, all evening services are suspended including all walk in clinics. All our clinics will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day. This means some of our weekly clinics may not be running for a couple of weeks and you may be asked to travel to another clinic should you need an appointment within this time. If you need urgent help during our closure periods, please seek advice from NHS 111 or for urgent help (such as for PEP), please visit your local A&E. Please see guidance on the various avenues for support and treatment.

@YorSexualHealth

20th December 2024

STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) can be the unwanted Christmas gift that keeps on giving 🎁 Increased mingling during the season means the incidences of common STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhoea, and more serious infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B, often increase. Like any time of the year, your best defence is a condom. For oral sex, you can use a dental dam which is a thin piece of latex which prevents infections passing from genitals to mouth. Being prepared is essential when looking after your sexual health this Christmas - pop a condom or dam into your bag before you head out to get merry 🎄 It's your responsibility to keep yourself safe, ensuring you don't end up with an unwanted gift that you might re-gift to someone else!