“The first thing I thought of doing was to commit suicide. I saw that as the only option to escape the pain of having my HIV status exposed.”

These are the words of 28-year-old Dessy (not her real name) who hit rock bottom when someone she trusted revealed her HIV status to her community during a dispute that had erupted between the two.

Dessy is a transgender woman who resides in the Erongo region. In 2021, when she found out that she was HIV positive, she made the choice to share her HIV status with only a few people she trusted. Dessy made this decision to protect herself from fear of stigma and discrimination.

People living with HIV often experience stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. Stigma and discrimination are usually intensified towards key populations (KPs), particularly female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender individuals who face the additional stigma due to social and cultural judgements. This also places key populations at a heightened risk of mental health issues including low self-esteem and weak mental health which triggers suicidal thoughts.

This resonated with Dessy after a clash with a friend led to the disclosure of her HIV status to many other people. “I was shocked to hear him shouting that I am HIV positive. It was dehumanizing, and I just wanted to die. My fear was that the news of my HIV status would spread in my community and that I would be discriminated against,” explains Dessy.

The psychosocial support offered through the Key Populations Strengthening Technical Assistance and Response for Sustainable HIV Prevention and Treatment (KP-STAR) project saved her life. KP-STAR is funded by the U.S. government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and aims to strengthen HIV prevention for Key Populations to reduce the incidence of and mitigate the impact of HIV. KP-STAR is implemented by IntraHealth Namibia.

“I reached out to the KP-STAR Regional Coordinator and was referred to a social worker in the Ministry of Health and Social Services because I had suicidal thoughts due to the extreme humiliation I experienced,” says Dessy.

The project’s case managers provide services for people who have experienced Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), as well as stigma and discrimination.

“Continuous counseling from the social worker and the KP-STAR team restored my self-esteem and confidence. If it was not for their support, I would not be alive today to share my story, said Dessy.”

Dessy has been a KP-STAR client since 2021 when she was first diagnosed with HIV. The project mainly works with the Ministry of Health and Social Services to facilitate stigma-free access to health facilities in the top ten towns with high HIV burden to ensure coordinated service delivery for Key Populations in Namibia.

Psychological support can help individuals affected by HIV to cope effectively with their status and enhance their quality of life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, remember that help is available. The U.S. Embassy, through KP-STAR has services and professionals ready to provide support. In Namibia, Lifeline/Childline offers counseling services daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can contact them at +264 226 889 or dial 116 for immediate assistance. You are not alone.