SX Highland / Argyll & Bute
We offer services to people living with HIV or are at a higher risk of HIV transmission, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans men.
We also provide support to people who are affected by someone else’s diagnosis, such as a partner, friend or relative.
HIV Prevention
- Outreach services to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Providing advice, information and resources for safer sex. We engage with men through apps and online forums/websites as well as providing condoms and lube at cruising sites across Highland.
- 1-1 risk reduction support. We offer a one off or a series of appointments for MSM looking for general support around sexuality, risk reduction, chemsex, PEP and PrEP as well as strategies for staying safe online and when cruising.
- Testing Services. We provide a monthly drop-in clinic with instant results in our Inverness office as well as scheduled testing appointments on an outreach basis throughout the Highlands. We also provide dried blood spot testing (DBS) which tests for HIV, HepB and HepC.
- Free Condoms can be posted out to people living in Highlands and Argyll and Bute or collected from our office in Inverness. To order free Condoms online visit https://www.waverleycare.org/service-areas/highland-sexual-health-services and select "Free Condoms By Post" from the drop down menu.
- Health promotion and training. We engage with groups to promote HIV awareness through partner organisations and run local events and campaigns for World AIDS Day, HIV Testing Week etc. We also offer a variety of training and education sessions for professionals free of charge throughout Highlands. We can tailor sessions to suit organisational needs.
Sessions currently offered:
- Understanding HIV and Hepatitis
- LGBT+ Diversity and Inclusion
- Working with Young People: Sex and Relationships
HIV Support
Services offered to people living with HIV:
- Emotional Health. Helping you feel less isolated, improving self-esteem, dealing with stigma/discrimination and dealing with change or loss.
- Physical Health. Supporting you to access clinical services and treatment, dealing with side effects of medication, advice on health, diet and exercise etc
- New Diagnosis. Understanding treatment, preventing onward transmission, if and how to tell other people, thinking positively about the future.
- Meeting other people living with HIV. Speaking to someone who understands what you’re going through, supporting each other, making new friends
- Discussing if and how to tell other people, how to deal with different responses.
- Practical support and information. Assistance with welfare issues, knowing your rights etc.
In Argyll and Bute we also provide a broader LGBT+ support service. We work on an outreach basis with all ages across the area. Please contact a member of our Argyll and Bute team if you wish to access this service.
