Our treatment of HIV has advanced. Why hasn't the stigma changed? | Arik Hartmann

The treatment of HIV has significantly advanced over the past three decades -- why hasn't our perception of people with the disease advanced along with it? After being diagnosed with HIV, Arik Hartmann chose to live transparently, being open about his status, in an effort to educate people. In this candid, personal talk, he shares what it's like to live with HIV -- and calls on us to dismiss our misconceptions about the disease.

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[nickklaus]

Going through the comments it's very saddening that people couldn't understand the message the speaker was trying to spread. The danger is neither undermined nor forgotten and also not the TOPIC. The point is treating people right even if they have the disease. To be rightly cautious with proper knowledge of the disease and of the current state. It's to loose the prejudice we carry from the past.

[berencelik]

Such a beautiful human being! Thanks for your courage and for openly talking about your journey. The world needs more people like you!

[EvilFiyero]

I resonate with this. I was lucky to have known my HIV diagnosis at the acute phase while I was seroconverting. It’s been all most a month, and I am hoping to see an increase in my CD4 counts and decrease in viral load.

[qvgtpxk]

you did change my view of how I see people with HIV. Great talk!

[danroux]

What strikes me with your talk is how articulate you are. Your ability to clearly convey your thoughts is impressive. I doubt its enough to soften the stigma of HIV but it certainly attracts sympathy for your condition whether or not you want it.

[andreaaldrich]

Because nobody wants HIV. It's a big deal. The stigma will never totally go away as it shouldn't because it shouldn't be taken lightly.
I think the immaturity around it should stop however.

[ashleyrivera]

I genuinely loved this video. This is a topic that NEEDS to be talked about much more.

I myself am not living with this virus, but so many people are (roughly 1.2 million Americans according to research), and they deserve to live a normal life, free from the fear of being treated differently simply because they are living with HIV, a VERY manageable condition now.

Firstly, HIV is not the same as AIDS, the two are very different. I find it very tragic that many people still have the same mindset as many people projected onto individuals living with HIV in the 80’s & 90’s during the height of this epidemic. HIV treatment can LITERALLY save lives, especially when diagnosed early enough. When there is access to effective antiretroviral treatment and competent medical care, someone living with HIV will most likely have the normal life expectancy as someone who is not living with the virus…but YET achieving all of these factors leading to managing HIV, something that should be fairly simple to do, is not easy at all actually. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding this virus continues to make it even harder. There is no reason for the toxic shame that surrounds HIV nationwide. This is not a “gay disease”, HIV does not discriminate and it is very possible for a individual who is heterosexual to contract the virus from another heterosexual man and/or female.

Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS need to change. If someone is diagnosed with HIV that does not make them “dirty” or “ promiscuous”, sometimes, for lack of a better word, stuff just happens. I’m sure people who read this comment will be thinking, “why is this girl, who does not even have the virus, writing all of this?”, and if you are thinking that…the answer is that I am writing this comment to hopefully help educate other people on this topic and to help end the stigma.

It’s important to realize that in today’s world, HIV can be treated, but stigma kills.

[mpat]

Blessings good luck and good health for Arik

[chasehicks]

I don't know why, but hearing hiv aids just makes shiver. But honestly, I could not for the life of me tell you why. And I'm willing to bet I'm not alone, and this is the aids tragedy...

[daisy_elle_]

i really liked this talk: because of this guy i found out a lot of new things i had no idea before. i wish everyone knew much more about diseases they are afraid of because they just were not taught about them

[Taric]

The stigma hasn't changed because the fact that it's a communicable disease that has no cure hasn't changed.

[raquelc.c.]

Such a powerful and educational message, both from a biological/medical point of view, but also from a psychological and social one. Thank you so much for your courage and compassion in the face of ignorance.

[ajaygiri]

Well the message that has been conveyed through this video is that we need to change perception against the person who is suffering from Hiv. But after seeing the comments below, i believe that they didn't get message they'll only understand once they are diagnosed with same and then ignored by society

[nfrost]

I know someone who has HIV - I wouldn’t have even known - I mentioned that I had a severe food allergy and he said he could relate because of his illness. I didn’t realize how far science has come with HIV

[sawwil]

First. Because disease is bad, why else??? Treatments for the flu has changed but look at the stigma in the media when the flu is killing significantly less than in the past. You are handling your disease well but what appears as irrational fear is a normal response for want of life, fear of disease is rational and trying to change that opinion in somebody else is the irrational act IMO

[Pidgey]

To be honest I am more concerned with people (especially careless young people or the newborns) who live their lives, thank God and doctors, in a time where HIV is not a death sentence anymore and thus considering it no longer a problem. Nowadays HIV or Aids are no longer on tv or news, people grow up un-educated about this risk and silently the virus continues its spreading.
To give you some statistics, Italy is sadly among the most infected countries in the EU with estimated 200'000 people dealing with HIV or even Aids, that is the final stage of the infection.
Only 4 out of ten really know their status, meaning that half of the population being Hiv+ ignores to be in danger and to represent a danger for their partners (since they do not treat themselves, they are a danger. If they are under treatment well then it's a different story).
And finally, people newly diagnosed with HIV struggle to tell their friends and family, delaying the treatment probably until it is becoming too late.
So this is, to me, very shocking. Hiv+ people are regarded sometimes as monsters and that's a shame. But it is more ashtonishing that this disease, which we could in theory prevent, is still a silent threat wandering through decades...
My goal would be to stop or at least reduce to almost 0 the new cases of Aids and possibly having the entire population knowing their status. It just take a few minutes to discover if you have the virus or not but it takes a lifetime to fight it, so educating people is our best weapon to win once and for all this battle.
By reducing the cases of Aids and consequent deaths, by making people aware of their HIV status, you can take back control of the disease. Once you achieve that, you can start by educating people not to be afraid of HIV+ guys and that as long as you remember that they are human too, we can let the science do the final step for a so-wished cure (or better treatments at least).

[gennetsybel]

I thank God for having Friends who advised me to go on the antiviral drug and i am and living a healthy life with undectable virus whereas my husband was not so blessed to be advised to go on treatment i think the Drs have to be taught to ask patients to go on treatment it is sad not all Drs are educated enough RE HIV

[ankushkadaskar]

The ignorance, especially coming from 21st century generation is the real sickness that exists. I am thankful for my upbringing, which made me informed and compassionate for people who are suffering with HIV . To quote the speaker "it's not a death sentence". There's support for this community 👍✌

[Kabodanki]

It's human nature to avoid risk. Nothing else to say

[jzvf_]

Some people talk about the disease being something that could kill them and cause them to be drug dependent and so the stigma will never be erased .. however the stigma mainly exists because it’s primarily a sexually transmitted disease. Other diseases that are caused from non sexual acts WILL NEVER be treated as HIV and unless we realize that it’s way more than a STD and a disease just like others than can happen then the stigma will never be erased.

On the other hand, mostly all other deadly diseases are not as easily spread as cancer and don’t limit people and their interactions. So the stigma can be understood.