Things to Think About Before Being Tested for HIV

Danny West is a trainer, coach, and leadership consultant, has been living with HIV for the past 24 years, and remains healthy today. One of his roles at RYL Training and Coaching Consultancy is providing people with accurate information about HIV/AIDS. He doesn't specifically encourage people to take the HIV test, but he helps people to think through the issues involved in making the decision of whether or not to be tested for HIV so they can make an informed choice. Being diagnosed HIV positive has many implications that must be considered before taking the HIV test. There is still much discrimination against people who are living with HIV. In the United Kingdom, it's difficult to get a job, mortgage, or life insurance if you are HIV positive. It is difficult to travel to certain countries if you are HIV positive. There are many restrictions placed on people with HIV due to fear and ignorance. Danny doesn't normally give advice, but he encourages people considering the HIV test to get enough information to make an informed decision. Next, think about the impact that an HIV positive test result would have on your life, who you would tell, and how they would react. Isolation is a killer, so think about who would be willing to provide you support if your result is HIV positive. For more information, visit http://www.ryl-training-consultancy.co.uk/ and http://www.AIDSvideos.org/. This video is freely downloadable from http://www.archive.org/details/ThingsToThinkAboutBeforeBeingTestedForHiv . [Do you want to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS? Are you fluent in a language other than English? Then volunteer to translate this video into another language! Click http://AIDSvideos.org/translate.shtml to learn how you can help!!! © Copyright 2008-2011 Global Lifeworks. All rights reserved. This work is licensed to be used for non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/.]

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• hiv
• positive
• aids
• danny
• west
• prevention
• education

[ahnowlin]

What an asshole, "I don't see that its my role to encourage people to have the test." Why wouldn't you get the test when the well being of everyone your close to is at risk, not to mention society in as a whole. Precautions should be made if you suspect you could have HIV. Mr. West, your a dick.

[AIDSvideos]

No name calling please. Personally, I encourage everyone to get tested without exception, as does the U.S. CDC. I think Danny's point is that in countries like the UK where there aren't robust antidiscrimination laws like the U.S. ADA (and even in the U.S.), people can experience problems once they've been diagnosed HIV+, therefore he doesn't consider "get tested" to be the no-brainer that most people do. We should work to eliminate discrimination so people are comfortable getting tested.

[NajhaeT]

DONT THINK! DONT WAIT! GET TESTED!

[chuonmy2xists]

This guys is a dick! Think about what affect it will have on your life if you get tested? I wish I were smart enough and brave enough to be tested early. The affects of waiting did more damage than early testing. Here's a few things to think about if you don't get tested early: AIDS, AIDS related illnesses, gee, I don't know, maybe DEATH. I was told if I would have waited any longer, I would have passed away within 3-6 weeks. I think those are far worse than maybe a stigma you may face.

[ignominni]

He said things to consider before getting tested; he didn't say not to get tested. If the concerns he mentions make you feel afraid enough not to get tested, maybe thinking about them and constructing a plan will encourage you more than not. I think that's the point of the video.

[Jibjub80]

Geez, I hope that things aren't like this in the US (difficult to get employment or a mortgage should someone become +). I don't think it is. That is just wrong. It will discourage people from knowing their statuses, and then, + people may unwittingly spread the virus to partners.

[jugbir]

Damn he's been living with it for 24+ years

[Holebis]

thanks for this testimony,

Added to my HIV/AIDS-prevention playlist.

Gaygreetings from Holebis

[findagent19]

cant you go online and do an anonymous test through an online company and use FedeX to ship. especially if you will face that kind of discrimination. If what you are saying is true Id hate to be in the Uk . You are right people can be really mean.