The HIV epidemic disproportionately affects men who have sex with men. Nearly 59% of people diagnosed with HIV in Ontario in 2016 were men who have sex with men.
Men who have sex with men are biologically more vulnerable to HIV, but psychosocial factors can also influence that vulnerability. Recent research has shown that programs that help men build social support and community connectedness, as well as their resiliency in the face of oppression, can help protect them from HIV.
However, men who have sex with men and other members of LGBT2 communities also experience high rates of mental health challenges and addictions. OHTN has published a series of Rapid Responses about the impact of specific mental health and addiction issues on HIV risk and HIV care among men who have sex with men:
- The effect of non-injection drug use on sexual risk behaviours and ART adherence among men who have sex with men
- Impact of victimization on the health of men who have sex with men
- The effect of alcohol consumption on ART adherence and sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men
- Impact of childhood sexual abuse on antiretroviral medication adherence, sexual risk behaviours and overall health among men who have sex with men
- The effect of mental health issues on sexual risk behaviours and antiretroviral medication adherence among men who have sex with men
OHTN is working with members of our network, including the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance and the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), and with Ontario researchers to improve access to mental health and addictions services for men who have sex with men.