About us

Together with people living with HIV, the NICHE research team will develop an intervention that uses health coaching to improve mental health and wellbeing for people with HIV who need it. As well as one-to-one sessions with the individual, the health coach can connect the person to other sources of support if they would like this. This might include community groups, HIV support groups, online or other support and advice (known as social prescribing).

We will measure if this approach works and is value for money using a clinical trial. Because these mental health and support issues are also very relevant to people with other long-term health conditions, we will assess if this approach can be adapted for other people receiving hospital care.

How it will work

The NICHE team is made up of HIV doctors, nurses, researchers and community representatives, committed to working with people living with HIV to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. We are collaborating with people living with HIV, healthcare staff and major research organisations across the UK to:

• assess if this approach can be adapted for other people receiving hospital care
• better understand the needs of people living with HIV
• trial an intervention based on health coaching and social prescribing to see if this can improve mental health and wellbeing for people living with HIV

Through the application of this unique programme of research, people living with HIV will be supported to live healthy and fulfilling lives that are focused on the individual, rather than HIV. The research could also demonstrate improvement in mental health and wellbeing for people living with HIV, reduce risk factors for chronic disease, and potentially be cost effective or cost neutral, particularly by reducing reliance on the NHS and specialist clinical HIV services.