Mental health and HIV medication support for men in low-resource areas
Official title: Addressing mental health and HIV medication adherence among high-risk men in a resource-limited setting
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11383012 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a combined mental-health and medication-support program to help high-risk men in resource-limited areas stay on HIV prevention and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $111,966 |
| NIH project number | 3R34MH135806-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11383012 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are men at high risk for HIV or living with HIV in resource-limited settings who are coping with depression or other mental-health challenges and difficulties staying on PrEP or ART.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not men, who live outside the study sites, who already have stable mental health and consistent medication adherence, or who are not eligible for PrEP/ART will likely not benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will first talk with men like you to shape the program. They'll run a small pilot to refine the counseling and support materials, then test the program in a short randomized comparison against enhanced usual care. Participants will complete interviews and mental-health screens and have medication adherence checked at enrollment, 3 months, and 6 months, including biological adherence measures. The program combines problem-solving therapy, stress-and-coping strategies, and a status-neutral approach so it works for people both on PrEP and on ART.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve mental health and increase real medication adherence, lowering the chance of HIV transmission and improving overall health.
How similar studies have gone: Other programs that combine mental-health support with adherence counseling have shown promising results in some groups, but this specific integrated, status-neutral approach for high-risk men in low-resource areas is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Operario, Don — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Operario, Don
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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WeCare: a combined mental health and HIV medication support program for high-risk men
A patient-friendly program called WeCare aims to support mental health and improve adherence to HIV meds among high-risk men in settings with limited resources.
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WeCare: a mental health and HIV medication adherence program for high-risk men in resource-poor settings
A patient-friendly approach called WeCare is being tested to help high-risk men manage stress and depression while sticking to HIV PrEP and ART in low-resource settings.
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Support for men's mental health and HIV medication use in low-resource settings
This project pilots a program that combines mental health support with help taking HIV prevention and treatment medicines for high-risk men in low-resource settings.
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Improving mental health and medication adherence for men who have sex with men in South Africa
This study is testing a new program to help men who have sex with men in South Africa improve their mental health and stick to their HIV medications, so they can feel better and stay healthy.
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A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
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Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.