Agata Vitale

Little is known about how the intersection of being a forced migrant and living with HIV can contribute to the development or exacerbation of pre-existing mental conditions. This study is set in this context and it aims to explore specific risk factors affecting the mental health of refugee women living with HIV (Stage 1) as well as the benefits of taking part in the Tree of Life, a group based narrative intervention (Stage 2). In Stage 1, a total of eight refugee women living with HIV took part in this study; they were individually interviewed, and their transcripts were thematically analyzed. The overall findings of Stage 1 indicated that participants’ mental health was impaired by multiple stressors associated with their conditions, such as racial discrimination, HIV-related stigma, including from health professionals, loneliness, and resettlement adversities. These all represent threats to public health, as they discourage individuals from engaging with adequate health/mental health services. Despite their situation, participants had not received psychological interventions and their healthcare was reduced to managing the physical symptoms of HIV. Participants indicated their need to take part in group interventions that could promote their mental health and social recovery. In Stage 2, participants took part in the Three of Life. Case studies will be discussed.