572 | Aging, HIV Stigma, and Mental Health among Older Adult Across Communities

This week, PhD student Bright Ofori talks about his research on HIV stigma and mental health among older adults living with HIV. With advances in treatment, people living with HIV are living longer. However, this raises new questions about what aging with HIV looks like; what happens when the social impacts of HIV (including stigma, shame, and fear of disclosure) last after diagnosis?

Bright’s research compares the experiences of older adults living with HIV across two different settings: the Ashanti Region of Ghana and African, Caribbean, and Black communities in Ontario. How do culture, community, and social support shape experiences of HIV stigma? How can stigma affect mental health, including experiences of depression and anxiety? And how can researchers capture these experiences while ensuring that the people and communities affected have a meaningful role in building a stronger voice for affected individuals?

Join Kuljeet Chohan and Victor Lau as they hear more about Bright’s methodologies and tackling how stigma exists, to understand a little more about the prevalence of HIV stigma and persisting through with mental health challenges.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bright-ofori-phd Instagram: @i.am.bryt 

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Recorded on Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Produced by Kuljeet Chohan

Theme tune “Feelin Good” provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)