July is HIV Stigma and Hepatitis Awareness Month

July is HIV Stigma and Hepatitis Awareness Month, a national health observance that raises awareness of HIV stigma and prevention of viral hepatitis.

Stigma and discrimination affect the mental and emotional well-being of people who live with HIV and can result in feelings of shame, despair, fear of social isolation, and reluctance to get tested or treated for HIV. Stigma takes the form of negative attitudes and beliefs about people with HIV and moral judgments about their choices and lifestyles. Stigma is often caused by a fear of the virus and misperceptions about how HIV is transmitted and treated.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends talking openly about HIV to normalize the subject and correct misinformation. The CDC offers helpful materials on how to stop HIV stigma and discrimination, including a language guide. The words we use matter, and we can all do our part to stop HIV stigma by using supportive language when talking about HIV.