The Ontario HIV Treatment Network is hosting a free sexual health workshop for LGBTQIA+ international students in Ontario on Feb. 6.
The workshop is a part of the network’s International Student Project, which was created to respond to challenges faced by international students belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, in finding support and services for sexual and mental health.
The network itself is a non-profit organization and aims to improve the health and lives of people living with HIV and those at risk of contracting HIV.
Maria Sunil, lead for policy and systems initiatives at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network said, “We work collaboratively with community and government partners to conduct research, support their use of best available data and evidence, and influence decision making at the personal clinical, organizational and policy level.”
The upcoming sexual health workshop aims to mainly provide students with a safe space to discuss HIV and other sexual health topics.
“There is a lot of taboo and shame surrounding these topics, especially for international students as they might have not been allowed to talk about these topics in their previous home countries,” said Sunil.
The workshop will be facilitated by Sunil and will also feature speakers from various places such as a local clinic representative, an LGBTQIA+ international student, and an HIV-positive social activist.
Participants will be able to learn about safer sex, healthy communication, and myths and misconceptions about mental health and sexual health, among other things.
Sunil shared that participants can also expect to obtain information on the different available services and resources on sexual and mental health.
“We just want to ensure that students know there are services and support for each, and we will be able to provide them with the ability to access these different resources,” said Sunil.
While the network does not provide direct mental health or sexual health services, it focuses its efforts on research and collaboration to provide support for students in these areas.
“If we can reduce the stigma surrounding these topics, we can actually prevent the transmission of different diseases and infections, and we can also improve everyone’s health and wellbeing as well,” Sunil said.
Interested students can join the workshop either virtually or in person at the University of Toronto’s Centre for International Experience.
Registration for the workshop is required and can be done using this link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/LYMHJSJ.
