Affected, not infected

You might not have HIV, but if you know or love someone who is HIV positive, you are HIV affected. It can be really hard and may feel like you don’t know how to support this person. You are not alone. There are lots of people across Canada who love and support their friends and family who are HIV positive. There are a lot of places you can go and people you can talk to about how to best support your loved ones. Many AIDS service organizations (AOSs) can help family and friends of people with HIV. You may want to consider contacting one near you. Also, there may be a group of people already meeting near you who are all trying to support their loved ones. These groups are an excellent place to talk about your feelings and to get suggestions. [Check out the Getting Help section for more information.]