Recruiting

Mental health support and medication coaching for gay and bisexual men with HIV in South Africa

Plain-English translation of NCT07226323 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a program called WeCare—a counseling and coaching program designed specifically for gay and bisexual men in South Africa who are living with HIV or taking HIV prevention medication. The program combines mental health support (to help with depression and stress) with practical help staying on track with daily medications. Researchers hope this combination approach will help men feel better emotionally while also taking their medications as prescribed.

Many gay and bisexual men in South Africa struggle with depression and anxiety, which makes it much harder to stick with HIV medications or prevention medication every day. This trial exists because existing mental health programs weren't designed with this group's specific challenges in mind—like stigma and discrimination—and didn't include practical medication support, so they didn't help people stay consistent with treatment.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are a man who has had sexual contact with men in the past 6 months
you live in the Johannesburg area and plan to stay there for at least 6 months
you are currently taking HIV treatment medication (if HIV-positive) or daily preventive medication (if HIV-negative)
you have moderate depression symptoms (a score of 10 or higher on a standard depression screening test)
you are able to speak English and understand the study information

You likely don't qualify if…

you are already working with a therapist or counselor
you refuse to have your counseling sessions recorded
you have already participated in an earlier version of this study

What participation looks like

If you join this trial, you'll be assigned to either receive the WeCare counseling program or be in a comparison group. Those in the WeCare program will have individual counseling sessions with a trained coach who will help you work through mental health challenges and develop practical strategies to take your medications consistently. Sessions can happen in person or online, depending on what works for you. The trial will measure how you're doing emotionally and how well you're managing your medications over time.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 3, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

South Africa

Aurum Institute, Johannesburg