Living with HIV, can be difficult in many ways and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been diagnosed for some time, connecting with someone else who is living with the same condition and who understands what you’re going through can really make a difference.
At Brigstowe we provide a service where you can meet regularly, either face-to-face or online, with one of our trained volunteers, a peer mentor, who is also living with HIV. Your Peer Mentor can:
- Share their experiences with you
- Provide you with emotional support
- Discuss coping strategies
- Be a listening ear
- Support you in exploring your own goals, to enable you to move forward confidently
Before I met with my mentor, I was still feeling insecure about living with HIV but now, after mentoring, I know more about HIV, and about how to deal with life with HIV, I feel more comfortable and more confident in myself.
Mentoring really helped me with the shock I was feeling when I was first diagnosed. My mentor reassured me that I was not alone, that I was going to be ok. I really hope everyone who is newly diagnosed can also meet with a mentor like I did.
If you think talking to someone who understands what you are experiencing would help, or if you would just like to find out more, please contact us.
Clinic Peer Support
Brigstowe peer mentors are available to provide support at the Brecon HIV Clinic, Gate 36, Southmead Hospital, usually on a weekly basis.
We understand that the clinic environment can be stressful, so the peer mentor is there to:
- provide a private, comfortable and confidential space to chat with you, one-to-one, and check in with you about your appointment and any worries or concerns you may have
- share their own experiences if you would find that helpful
- be available to chat with you about your treatment
- let you know about other ways in which Brigstowe can help
I was feeling quite stressed & anxious about my appointment – but as soon I started speaking to the peer mentor I felt at ease straight away & calmed down.
If you would like to meet with a peer mentor while you are at the clinic, please let a member of your clinical team know, such as your consultant, one of the nurses, pharmacists or health care assistants, and they will be happy to introduce you to the mentor.
Interested in becoming a Peer Mentor?
Would you like to support other people living with HIV?
Can you share your own experience to help others to feel more confident about their own HIV status?
Would you like to learn communication and support techniques?
Can you commit to meeting with someone weekly for up to a minimum of 4 months?
I decided to become a mentor as I didn’t want others to go through what I did when I was first diagnosed and had no one to speak to. I can honestly say it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. The training is brilliant, and I’ve learnt so much about myself and my own diagnosis – which is something I wasn’t expecting!
For information on becoming a volunteer peer mentor please read the role description or contact us to find out more.