HIV ILLNESS, STDs & SAFE SEX
Blood Lines: A View into the Soul of HIV and Youth (Video 1540) 1999; 22 min
Audience: youth; students; adults
Synopsis: Jennifer and Rebecca, the makers of this documentary, both contracted HIV in their
teen years. Jennifer states that she never thought HIV would happen to "people like me." As
advocates for youth with this infection they travelled throughout the U.S and Europe collecting the
experiences of other HIV positive young people. Most were infected in their teens; most took
chances even though they knew better. The program contains a significant amount of factual
information, for example, how you can and cannot get HIV, that is delivered in small capsules
throughout the program. The most affecting aspect of this video are the poignant testimonials
delivered in a straightforward manner. Jody, infected at 14, comments that "nobody told me I
wouldn't get sick right away" and that "no one would want to be with me…or touch me." For all
those with the illness acceptance by others especially friends and family is paramount.
Caring for Gay and Lesbian Clients (Video 2357) 1998; 45 min
Audience: health practitioners; post-secondary students
Synopsis: Allan Peterkin MD notes that this video is a product of a second year medical student
initiative for educational materials to support health care with gay and Lesbian patients. The
video advocates for inclusiveness, for seeking opportunities teaching on Lesbian and Gay health
issues and to challenge negative attitudes and beliefs and to understand why appropriate health
care may be difficult to obtain for this client group. Among other issues discussed are the use of
appropriate language and ways to understand the self-development of the client. Available on
request is a workbook that enlarges on these issues using role-plays, discussion points for the
video vignettes and other exercises.
Circle of Warriors (Video 2162) 1989; 27 min
Audience: adults; students
Synopsis: A group of aboriginal people who have been diagnosed HIV positive discuss as a
group the impact and consequences of their illness. These people are from a wide variety of
economic backgrounds and are at different levels of dealing with their life situation: in the words
of one participant "I'm not dying with AIDS, I'm living with AIDS." With the guidance of counselor
Terry Tafoya, they discuss feelings, sexuality, getting support, telling family, friends and mates
and dealing with others reactions.
Rock Bottom: Gay Men and Meth (DVD 1654) 2006; 61 min
Audience: Gay men in recovery; health professionals; adults only
Note: contains explicit images and language, may be a trigger for some viewers
Synopsis: Filmed over a two-year period this documentary follows a number of men through their
involvement with methamphetamine, addiction and their efforts with recovery in a highly
sexualized social environment. “Crystal” appears as the latest drug of choice in this charged
atmosphere where user’s lament, “party drugs help me socialize …nobody told me it was
addictive.” Many factors combine to make a complex picture, among them the decline of a safe-
sex attitude among younger men, and the obvious fact that HIV positive men are living longer. In
addition there are increased risks for drug use among men who are socially isolated, inhibited
and experience depression, all dislocations of life in an urbanized world. Addiction psychiatrist
Steven Lee M.D. offers insights along the way on the nature of addiction and the lifelong struggle
for wellness that these men will face. One former user comments about sober sex, “something
was missing (the high of meth) and there is mourning over the loss.”
The HIV Substance Abuser, 1995
Audience: health professionals; HIV clients
Synopsis: This three-part Program examines the experiences of the San Francisco General
Hospital's Substance Abuse Clinic.
CAMH Library, Audiovisual Lending Service 1
June 12, 2009
• Medical Management (Video 1149.1) 50 minutes, presents general guidelines on the medical
needs of HIV infected clients, including epidemiology, testing and confidentiality, medical care
and problems, triage, psychiatry and medications.
• Psychosocial Management (Video 1149.2) 49 minutes discusses staff morale, standards of
care, counselling, groups, relapse, recovery and prevention.
• Life After HIV (Video 1149.3) 20 minutes is intended for client viewing and outlines the
importance of physical and emotional health. An overview of HIV illness categories is given with
specific reference to T-cell counts. Included are extensive comments by clients on their efforts to
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
IV Positive (Video 1416) 1999; 42 min
Audience: health professionals, drug users
Synopsis: This Canadian documentary follows some of the daily lives of Bill, Lori, Ed and Jacob,
four injection drug users living in Vancouver's east end. All are infected with HIV illness and
some like Bill are still actively using injection drugs. They all participated in the production of this
film and they present harm reduction information as they visit health care providers, support
groups and social agencies. Injection drug users are the most at risk for getting and passing on
HIV infection. Information is provided on safe injection, HIV testing and general self care.
Information is provided on HIV illness as well as hepatitis C, tuberculosis and STD's, the big four
diseases in the community. Several support groups are shown including one for street sex trade
workers. The focus of the program is to encourage users to take better care of their health and to
consider a recovery program as an option. The video concludes with final statements from the
main participants. (Caution: some scenes may act as a trigger to use for those in recovery; some
viewers may find some language offensive.)
Kecia: Words to Live By (Video 1013) 1991; 24 min
Audience: health professionals; general; Aboriginal People
Synopsis: Kecia Larkin, a young aboriginal woman was sexually assaulted by the time she was
ten, was living on the streets by age 15, and using heroin at 17. After her lover was injured in a
collision, she found out that he was HIV-positive and so was she. She now tours the country,
speaking to students about AIDS, drug use and safe sex. She talks not just about life on the
streets, but about the emotions and conflicts that often leads people into that lifestyle.
Learning to Care: HIV Psychiatry (Video 2212) 1996: 58 min
Audience: mental health professionals; counsellors; physicians
Synopsis: Developed by the Canadian Psychiatric Association this video reviews basic principles
of psychiatric intervention including medications and psychotherapy. A short introduction
provides background, psychiatrist interviews and deals with anxiety diagnosis and treatment.
Four demonstration cases are presented. The first two present mood disorders, depression and
suicide; then Bipolar disorders, psychosis, delirium, dementia and various motor and cognitive
disorders. Case three deals with bereavement and case four with consideration for
psychotherapy for the HIV population.
The Measure of Your Passage (Video 2157) 1992; 30 min
Audience: general
Synopsis: This imaginative documentary was one artist's attempt to deal with death caused by an
AIDS related illness. It is both an actual journey and a journey of the spirit. By travelling to
Santorini a parallel is drawn between the destruction of an ancient Mediterranean civilization and
the insidious invasion of the body by HIV. What is remembered, what is understood by the
archaeology of what remains? How do you measure your passage?
CAMH Library, Audiovisual Lending Service 2
June 12, 2009
The Plan: Addictions-HIV (Video 1093) 1992; 38 min
Audience: HIV-positive drug users; health professionals; students
Synopsis: Robert and Eileen are recovered addicts: they are also HIV positive. Through
interviews, they describe how they have dealt with both their substance abuse and HIV. Experts
discuss relevant issues; for example, how staying clean (avoiding illicit drug use) can improve
immune response in HIV-positive clients. The video addresses concepts such as self-
destruction, denial, medical awareness, "higher power," and hope.
Positive Lives (Video 2179) 1995; 30 min
Audience: women; HIV positive people; health professionals
Synopsis: Produced in co-operation with the Hassle Free Women's Clinic this video shows
discussions between six women who have been diagnosed HIV positive. Many issues are
presented in the lives of these people, such as the importance of telling parents and those you
trust, concerns about sexual intimacy and fear of rejection. There are also interviews with AIDS
workers. One of the women comments, "It doesn't matter how you got AIDS...you are more
dangerous to us than we are to you."
Straight Up Life (Video 1309) 1997; 30 min
Audience: secondary students; adults
Synopsis: Set in San Francisco and sprinkled with rap songs that reflect some of the young
people’s feelings, five young Americans speak candidly about their involvement in risky sex, drug
use and learning that they are HIV-positive. These young men and women share their
experiences in treatment, relapse and through the process of moving on, which for some, means
accepting their situation and making lifestyle changes. Coping, at different times, with denial,
anger, hopelessness and acceptance of their HIV status, they come to believe that “it’s better to
know than to not know.” After struggling with the knowledge that they are HIV-positive, they seem
resolved to face the future with dignity.
Sex Matters (Video 2190) 1991; 25 min
Audience: adults; students aged 15 to 18 years; college students
Synopsis: This upbeat video starts off with a segment from an early sex education film then
quickly jumps into a series of still photographs of erotic imagery from ancient and historical
sculpture and painting. Much of the video is devoted to candid interviews with college students on
their attitudes and ideas about sexuality, love and commitment. Straight, gay and lesbian
sexuality issues are discussed, as well as the influence of alcohol and other drugs on sexual
behaviour. Much focus of the talk centres on the independence of college life, but also concerns
about sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS/HIV. Much time is spent discussing condom
use and a humorous segment demonstrates how to put on a condom in the dark.
Taking a Sexual History (Video 2215) 1995; 30 min
Audience: physicians; health professionals
Synopsis: This program of clinical assessment presents unrehearsed vignettes demonstrating
interviews with actual patients about their sexual and drug using histories. While aimed primarily
at assessing HIV risk it may be used for other sexually transmitted diseases and health risks
associated with illicit drug use.
Thinking Positive: People Like Me Don't Get It. (Video 2143) 1993; 24 min
Audience: 15 years +; health professionals
Synopsis: This program was taped in Newfoundland and is designed primarily for teens in rural
areas. The program presented by Trudy, who tested positive for HIV infection. She now works for
the AIDS committee in her area, speaking with teens about safe sex, presenting practical advice
and other issues connected with HIV illness. In lively and frank discussions, a mixed group of
teens share attitudes, feelings and beliefs about their relationships. Mention is also made of other
high-risk behaviour: needle sharing, including home tattooing, illicit steroid use by athletes and
the association of alcohol use and sex.
CAMH Library, Audiovisual Lending Service 3
June 12, 2009