The Health Research Board has awarded Trinity School of Medicine funding to support a new study into adults living with HIV. The project,’ Understanding and Addressing Mental Health, Loneliness and Quality of Life in Older People Living with HIV in Ireland: A Pathway to Social Prescribing’, is led by Dr Louise Brennan (Trinity College Dublin) and Professor David Robinson (St James’s Hospital Dublin).
Despite dramatic advancements in treatment, HIV remains a major public health issue in Ireland, with a growing, ageing population of people living with HIV (PLWH). International data demonstrates that PLWH experience a high burden of mental health symptoms, loneliness and reduced quality of life (QOL); the 2024 Fast Track Cities report highlights a need to understand mental health and experiences of older PLWH in Ireland. The Department of Health Mental Health Policy proposes Social Prescribing as a community-based intervention for prevention and early intervention of mental health issues.
This HRB funded project team led by Dr Louise Brennan, a Social Prescribing Coordinator, and Professor David Robinson, Consultant Geriatrician aims to understand mental health, loneliness and QOL in older PLWH in Ireland, and to co-design a social prescribing intervention to enhance mental wellbeing and social connectedness.
Dr Brennan and Professor Robinson’s combined skills and expertise in HIV care, geriatric care and social prescribing in collaboration with PPI representative colleagues create an ideal complement to undertake this research and address the concerns of people living with HIV (PLWH). The research programme is nationally relevant and aligns with HSE priority areas of HIV care, Mental Healthcare and Social Prescribing.
Speaking about the Award, Dr. Louise Brennan, Adjunct Assistant Professor Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, said "Older people living with HIV face significant and varied challenges which can impact their mental health and quality of life. In this project, we will firstly establish the issues and needs of people aged over 50 living with HIV relating to mental health, loneliness and quality of life. We will then work closely with patient representatives, health care professionals and HIV advocacy experts to co-design a social prescribing service which will aim to reduce loneliness, improve quality of life and enhance mental wellbeing for this group."
Dr Brennan’s grant award is just one of 10 new mental health research projects with a focus on priority and underserved groups that the HRB is funding through its Applied Partnership Awards scheme.
Commenting on the investment, Dr Gráinne Gorman, Chief Executive of the HRB, said: “We welcome the Minister’s continued commitment to advance mental health research which has seen the HRB’s dedicated mental health research budget triple since 2022. This recent investment demonstrates the power of co-production and collaboration in driving research that improves mental health and wellbeing, especially among priority and underserved populations, across the island of Ireland.”