Title: Is Revenge-Based HIV Transmission a Psychological Issue?
Media: 8TV - Living Delight (2025)
Speaker: Ms Lee Li Li, Clinical Psychologist
Date: 23.07.2025 (Wednesday)
A. Psychological State of People Living with HIV
“The fear is not about the virus but about facing everything alone.”
HIV is not only physical illness, but also a huge emotional storm. After diagnosis, many go through denial, guilt, fear, shame and worst of all, the pain of going through it alone.
Sometimes, what we call “revenge” isn’t about hurting others, it’s an emotional breakdown after feeling helpless for too long. If we understand the underlying mental struggles behind it, society might step in before anything harmful happens. In this session, clinical psychologist Lee Li Li shared topics we don’t usually talk about — the inner pain of those with HIV, the fear of rejection, and the hidden cries for help behind some behaviours.
B. Why are Young Adults at Higher Risk of HIV？
In Malaysia, men aged 20 to 29 make up the majority of newly diagnosed HIV cases. Statistics show that for every 10 new cases, approximately 9 are male.
What causes this? While risky behaviour plays a role, the psychology behind these choices is just as important:
These individuals are not necessarily ignorant. Instead, most of them underestimate the severity of the risk or lack of life experience to conduct such high-risk decisions.
C. Life after Diagnosis: A Hidden Psychological Struggle
The emotional journey of someone living with HIV typically passes through several stages:
Cultural taboos and stereotypes towards sex and illness make it difficult for many people living with HIV to seek help. Silence and suppression become part of daily life, allowing emotional burdens to quietly pile up as time goes on.
D. Revenge: A Silent Cry for Help
One of the most controversial topics in HIV-related mental health is the idea of revenge-based transmission. But is it just about harming others?
Psychologically, this kind of behaviour often stems from a deeper need — the need to be understood. When someone experiences prolonged loneliness, shame, or rejection without any outlet, extreme behaviour may emerge as a distorted form of seeking help.
Emotional pathway: Fear -> Anger ->Resentment -> Urge for revenge
Within this emotional chain, anger is the point most likely to trigger action.
3 High-Risk Psychological Profiles:
They are not born as “bad people”, but individuals who lack of early psychological intervention and support, falling into high-risk emotional cycles.
E. Psychological Assessment: Identifying Risk and Providing Support
To reduce revenge-motivated behaviour among high-risk individuals, hospitals and related institutions have begun incorporating psychological assessment into the treatment process for people living with HIV.
Assessment typically checks for:
Clinical psychologists evaluate individuals through their speech, emotional responses and psychological test results, and will recommend suitable interventions and support plans accordingly.
F． How will Legal Responsibility be Determined?
If an individual knowingly and intentionally transmits HIV, this constitutes a criminal offence. However, if the act was committed during a state of severe mental illness or personality disorder — where judgement is impaired, the person may not be held legally responsible.
Legal decisions often depend on whether the individual acted with awareness and intention, but this must be evaluated alongside professional psychological assessments to determine the person’s mental and cognitive state at the time of the act.
G. Support Available for HIV patients
For many people living with HIV, the hardest part isn’t the treatment — it’s admitting their need and seeking help. Only when clear and accessible support systems are visible and approachable, will individuals feel safe enough to seek help, instead of turning toward self-destructive behaviour.
Available support services include:
These organisations do more than just offer services — they hold space for people during their most isolated moments. Whether someone is facing workplace discrimination, suffering a mental breakdown, or struggling to access healthcare, these groups often form the last line of support. In real life cases, both PT Foundation and MAC have helped individuals secure legal aid, retrain in new skills and reintegrate into the workforce.
H．Understanding over Judgement
HIV Is not the end of someone’s life, but without mental health support, it can become the start of self-destruction. Sometimes, a person who seems to be threatening is simply someone who has been calling out for help in the dark for far too long, with no one answering their call. To prevent future harm, society must take a step forward — not only by treating illness but also caring for the emotional pain that comes with it.
Media: 8TV - Living Delight (2025)
Speaker: Ms Lee Li Li, Clinical Psychologist
Date: 23.07.2025 (Wednesday)
A. Psychological State of People Living with HIV
“The fear is not about the virus but about facing everything alone.”
HIV is not only physical illness, but also a huge emotional storm. After diagnosis, many go through denial, guilt, fear, shame and worst of all, the pain of going through it alone.
Sometimes, what we call “revenge” isn’t about hurting others, it’s an emotional breakdown after feeling helpless for too long. If we understand the underlying mental struggles behind it, society might step in before anything harmful happens. In this session, clinical psychologist Lee Li Li shared topics we don’t usually talk about — the inner pain of those with HIV, the fear of rejection, and the hidden cries for help behind some behaviours.
B. Why are Young Adults at Higher Risk of HIV？
In Malaysia, men aged 20 to 29 make up the majority of newly diagnosed HIV cases. Statistics show that for every 10 new cases, approximately 9 are male.
What causes this? While risky behaviour plays a role, the psychology behind these choices is just as important:
- Curiosity without caution: Many engage in their first sexual experience without protection, having an “I’ll try once, I’ll be fine” mentality.
- Peer pressure: Friends encourage the use of dating apps, invitation to parties or introduce them to new and risky sexual experiences.
- Feeling invincible: There’s a common belief among youths that “I’m young and healthy, it won’t happen to me”
These individuals are not necessarily ignorant. Instead, most of them underestimate the severity of the risk or lack of life experience to conduct such high-risk decisions.
C. Life after Diagnosis: A Hidden Psychological Struggle
The emotional journey of someone living with HIV typically passes through several stages:
- Shock and Denial: “How can this be happening to me?”
- Anxiety and Fear: Concerns about health, income, relationships and what the future holds.
- Silence and self-isolation: Choose not to tell anyone, enduring side effects and mental strain alone.
Cultural taboos and stereotypes towards sex and illness make it difficult for many people living with HIV to seek help. Silence and suppression become part of daily life, allowing emotional burdens to quietly pile up as time goes on.
D. Revenge: A Silent Cry for Help
One of the most controversial topics in HIV-related mental health is the idea of revenge-based transmission. But is it just about harming others?
Psychologically, this kind of behaviour often stems from a deeper need — the need to be understood. When someone experiences prolonged loneliness, shame, or rejection without any outlet, extreme behaviour may emerge as a distorted form of seeking help.
Emotional pathway: Fear -> Anger ->Resentment -> Urge for revenge
Within this emotional chain, anger is the point most likely to trigger action.
3 High-Risk Psychological Profiles:
- Depressive type: Individuals with low self-worth who avoid joyful environments are drawn to negative emotional validation. They may develop thoughts like, “If I can’t get better, then let’s all go down together.”
- Trauma type: Those who contracted HIV passively through sexual assault or violence, living under dual trauma. When fear and anger mix without an outlet, they may turn to revenge.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder type: Individuals lacking empathy and guilt, may view HIV transmission as a weapon or a tool of control. They often show little or no sense of responsibility/fault.
They are not born as “bad people”, but individuals who lack of early psychological intervention and support, falling into high-risk emotional cycles.
E. Psychological Assessment: Identifying Risk and Providing Support
To reduce revenge-motivated behaviour among high-risk individuals, hospitals and related institutions have begun incorporating psychological assessment into the treatment process for people living with HIV.
Assessment typically checks for:
- Presence of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Presence of personality disorder, such as antisocial or borderline personality
- Ability to make basic moral and legal judgements
- Impulse control and risk for aggression
Clinical psychologists evaluate individuals through their speech, emotional responses and psychological test results, and will recommend suitable interventions and support plans accordingly.
F． How will Legal Responsibility be Determined?
If an individual knowingly and intentionally transmits HIV, this constitutes a criminal offence. However, if the act was committed during a state of severe mental illness or personality disorder — where judgement is impaired, the person may not be held legally responsible.
Legal decisions often depend on whether the individual acted with awareness and intention, but this must be evaluated alongside professional psychological assessments to determine the person’s mental and cognitive state at the time of the act.
G. Support Available for HIV patients
For many people living with HIV, the hardest part isn’t the treatment — it’s admitting their need and seeking help. Only when clear and accessible support systems are visible and approachable, will individuals feel safe enough to seek help, instead of turning toward self-destructive behaviour.
Available support services include:
- Government Hospitals/Clinics: Provide antiretroviral medication (ARV), health monitoring and basic psychological counselling services.
- Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC): Offers mental health counselling, legal support, job training and employment placement assistance.
- Legal Aid Centre (LAC): Assists with discrimination, unfair dismissal and other legal rights issue
- PT Foundation: Provides anonymous HIV/ Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) testing, counselling, gender rights advocacy and health education.
These organisations do more than just offer services — they hold space for people during their most isolated moments. Whether someone is facing workplace discrimination, suffering a mental breakdown, or struggling to access healthcare, these groups often form the last line of support. In real life cases, both PT Foundation and MAC have helped individuals secure legal aid, retrain in new skills and reintegrate into the workforce.
H．Understanding over Judgement
HIV Is not the end of someone’s life, but without mental health support, it can become the start of self-destruction. Sometimes, a person who seems to be threatening is simply someone who has been calling out for help in the dark for far too long, with no one answering their call. To prevent future harm, society must take a step forward — not only by treating illness but also caring for the emotional pain that comes with it.
