Herpes Support Groups

• Australia
• Canada
• France
• New Zealand
• Mexico
• South Africa
• Sweden
• The Netherlands
• United Kingdom
• United States

The Development of Herpes Support Groups

The US-based American Social Health Association (ASHA) was the first major support and advocacy group dealing with the issues of herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases. It was founded as the American Social Hygiene Association in 1914, changing its name to the American Social Health Association in 1960. In 1979, ASHA formed the Herpes Resource Centre (HRC) which focuses on increasing education, public awareness and support for anyone concerned about herpes. The HRC offers a number of services including the National Herpes Hotline, which receives more than 60,000 calls a year.

The International Herpes Management Forum (IHMF), founded in 1993, is a unique initiative established to improve the awareness, understanding, counselling and management of herpesvirus infections. It is headed by a Board of clinicians and draws its direction from international opinion leaders in all aspects of medical management of herpesvirus infections. Key activities include an Annual Meeting, the development and distribution of Management Guidelines and the publication of Herpes, an international, peer-reviewed journal.

The International Herpes Alliance (IHA) was launched in December 1999 as a non-profit making organisation offering support and information to those with genital herpes, those helping to manage the condition and national patient support groups around the world. The IHA is involved in a number of activities, including the development of internationally relevant patient information about herpes that is available free of charge in a number of languages and can be adapted for regional use. With the support of the IHMF and the IHA, patient advocacy groups have been emerging throughout the world, offering much-needed support and information to people affected by genital herpes.