My friend in India get diagnosed as HIV positive. What to do?

i have a 24 year old friend in India and he tested HIV positive. He now says that he does not want to die a painfully miserable death and that he will commit suicide soon. Also he says he has no courage to tell that to his parents or his relatives. He says within 2 weeks he will kill himself.

What to do?

i can't do much. i live in canada. i can only talk on phone with him.

For the citizens of India HIV is a death sentence. Out of all the funding that goes towards medication for HIV 95% of it is spent in the USA. Only 5% of the money goes to the thousands of countries that have HIV. As far as I know the government of India does not give free HIV medications to its' citizens. Therefore your friend will be dead in an average of 8-10 years unless he commits suicide first.

Your friends life as he knows it has changed and there is no hope for him. If he chooses not to commit suicide then his life is about to get really tough and lonely. Suicide may be an easier route to take for him cosidering what he is about to go through.

I am HIV+ as well and believe me it is NOT easy. Being honest with him is actually a good thing. No, it is not a death sentence, as others here have said. However, it takes willpower and courage and I know that he has both. It's good that he is giving himself time in this threat of suicide as it means he is unsure. I'm not sure what kind of mental health help they have in India, but encourage him that people who live with it can tell him that it will be okay. He may never progress to AIDS as long as he takes care of himself and takes his medications properly.

Direct him to online resources and help groups that can help him. HIs initial response to kill himself is understandable-- but remind him this is his only life and sometimes things happen that appear unfair but it is still HIS life and he has ever right to live to the utmost.

There are plenty of people who lead VERY normal, enriching lives who are HIV +.

You need to refer him to knowledgeable sources regarding the true prognosis of HIV. Today with current medications people can live decades, and if compliant with medications actually do very well. Socially, you need to support him and see if his physician can refer him to a support group.

HIV does not have to be a death sentance. Your friend should get himself as educated as possible and get access to treatment. People live a very long time with HIV. Please encourage him to get help.

Talk to him, a person with HIV is no longer a death sentence, With medication he can live an average life span.