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Several months ago, Jamie Pedigo learned that southwest Kansas lacks the resources to help people affected by HIV cope with mental health issues.
“The physical aspect of it is done really well, but as far as mental health goes, you don’t hear anything about that,” said Pedigo, a professional counseling intern with the Counseling and Mediation Center in Dodge City. “So I kind of checked around, and there really are no support groups for people that have HIV or people that have loved ones that have HIV.” Pedigo was thinking of starting a new support group for a class at Fort Hays State University, where he’s earning a master’s degree in counseling. And based on what he had learned, he decided to launch a group dedicated to HIV and mental health.
The group will begin March 23 with a lecture by Steve Randall, a physician’s assistant who practices at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Midtown Clinic. Randall works with Dr. Donna Sweet, a specialist in HIV/AIDS, and is an educator for the Kansas AIDS Education and Training Center.
Randall’s lecture will cover the 30-year history of HIV, care and prevention and the mental health issues linked to the disease. The lecture is open to medical professionals and the public.
The support group, which is open to anyone affected by HIV or AIDS in any way, will likely begin the week after the lecture. The date and time have not been set yet.
Pedigo said the group is intended to help participants build a strong support system and reduce the stigma that surrounds HIV and AIDS.
“There’s more people out here that have been affected by the disease than people know,” he said. “I think mainly because it’s not spoken of, and the stigma of it is still pretty bad.”
Several months ago, Jamie Pedigo learned that southwest Kansas lacks the resources to help people affected by HIV cope with mental health issues.
“The physical aspect of it is done really well, but as far as mental health goes, you don’t hear anything about that,” said Pedigo, a professional counseling intern with the Counseling and Mediation Center in Dodge City. “So I kind of checked around, and there really are no support groups for people that have HIV or people that have loved ones that have HIV.” Pedigo was thinking of starting a new support group for a class at Fort Hays State University, where he’s earning a master’s degree in counseling. And based on what he had learned, he decided to launch a group dedicated to HIV and mental health.
The group will begin March 23 with a lecture by Steve Randall, a physician’s assistant who practices at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Midtown Clinic. Randall works with Dr. Donna Sweet, a specialist in HIV/AIDS, and is an educator for the Kansas AIDS Education and Training Center.
Randall’s lecture will cover the 30-year history of HIV, care and prevention and the mental health issues linked to the disease. The lecture is open to medical professionals and the public.
The support group, which is open to anyone affected by HIV or AIDS in any way, will likely begin the week after the lecture. The date and time have not been set yet.
Pedigo said the group is intended to help participants build a strong support system and reduce the stigma that surrounds HIV and AIDS.
“There’s more people out here that have been affected by the disease than people know,” he said. “I think mainly because it’s not spoken of, and the stigma of it is still pretty bad.”
