Digital Storytelling, Social Media, and More for NYHAAD 2015

Today’s observance of National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day ) provides our nation with an opportunity to engage young people (and adults) in conversation about the epidemic’s impact on youth. These conversations include sharing stories and facts about the epidemic, and can involve listening to young people and sharing tools for action. This year’s theme is "Engaging Youth Voices in the Response to HIV & AIDS and beyond to engage with youth about HIV.

Digital Storytelling:

HIV.gov recently released Positive Spin. This digital storytelling series features the personal experiences of five HIV-positive, gay black men who have successfully navigated the HIV care continuum, from diagnosis to treatment and, ultimately, to viral suppression. Achieving viral suppression helps those with HIV stay healthy, live longer, and dramatically reduce their chances of passing the virus to others.

Among these Positive Spin stories are: Uriah’s story of learning at age 17 that he is HIV-positive and Guy’s story of being a young, black gay man living with HIV. Watch their stories, share them on social media using #mypositivespinExit Disclaimer, and leave us your comments.

Learn the Facts:

• The HIV.gov website provides information on HIV basics and how the Federal government is responding to HIV.
• You can check out the CDC web feature for NYHAAD.
• Another way to share the facts is to use the resources from CDC’s Act Against AIDS campaigns, including the Let’s Stop HIV Together videos.

Listen and Join the Conversation:

• Use #NYHAADExit Disclaimer to listen to, and join, the larger online conversation.
• Check out what we have been listening to and sharing through our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest channels.
• This resource from CDC shows how to talk with teens about sex. Visit CDC’s Healthy Youth website.
• Have you read the HIV.gov blog posts about the HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, including the guest post by Advocates for Youth about NYHAAD?

Take Action:

• Help more youth find HIV testing and other health services by using the HIV Testing Sites and Care Services Locator.
• Visit the HIV.gov new media page to learn how you can use social media to amplify messages to and for youth at risk for HIV.
• If you need a personal tutorial on using social media, sign up for free personalized technical assistanceExit Disclaimer from HIV.gov’s Virtual Office Hours service.

How do you use social media to take part in the conversation about HIV? How are you connecting with youth about HIV?