The purpose of this paper is to examine the mental and psychosocial well-being of immigrants and refugees living with HIV (IRLHIV) amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada.
This study used a mixed-methods approach. A cross-sectional survey (n = 124) was administered for the quantitative part of the study, and a photovoice (n = 13) was used for the qualitative part of the study.
The analysis generated four major themes: 1) experience of systemic/institutional oppression, 2) manifestation of HIV-related stigma, 3) stressors of mental well-being, and 4) resilience to cope with life situations.
The study collected data from a small sample size in the province of Alberta in Canada and thus may not be generalized to other provinces.
This paper stresses the integration of mental well-being and psychosocial support with HIV services and interventions, including those led by community organizations, must be the key priority actions among policymakers and social actors.
The authors confirm that this work is original and has not been published elsewhere, nor is it currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
