AIDS PEI event to examine sexual health and self-esteem

AIDS PEI wants to talk about a topic they say is often taboo, but needs to be discussed: sexual health. 

The group is inviting people to come out Monday night for a panel discussion entitled, "Your Parts and Beyond: Sexual Health You, and Your Community. It Concerns All of Us!" 

Cybelle Rieber, program manager with AIDS PEI, says the event will touch on commonly discussed topics such as sexually transmitted infections and contraception, but it will also delve into sexual health and how it relates to self-esteem and mental health. 

"That whole piece around reproductive health is really important, it's a part of sexual health," said Rieber.

"But anything beyond that, we don't talk about sex drive, erectile dysfunction, unless we're talking about medications in advertising.

"How often to we talk about the interactions between other disease and sexual health? Or other health conditions, or chronic conditions and sexual health? When do we talk about our self-esteem and sexual health, in the way we feel ourselves to be sexual beings?" Rieber said.

This is the first event of its kind to be held by AIDS PEI and Reiber said she hopes to see health care providers and other professionals in attendance, anyone who has an interest in how sexual health relates to themselves or the community.

The panel will include Michelle MacCallum,a youth project worker, Bethany Toombs,a high school guidance counsellor, Rev. Andrew Richardson from Trinity United Church in Summerside, and Chris Doiron, a social worker from Catholic Family Services. 

The event is set for 7 p.m. at the Murphy Centre, Room 207, 200 Richmond Street in Charlottetown.