The Association Supports Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
May is Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month and we want to spread awareness, understanding and show our support, this month and beyond.
Learn more about BPD below, access resources to generate further insights, and find places you can go for support.
What is borderline personality disorder?
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is an illness that makes your emotions feel difficult to cope with which can impact your relationships with others. Around 1 in 100 people lives with BPD. Although women are more likely to be given this diagnosis, it is thought to affect men and women equally.
It is a commonly misunderstood mental health condition which often is a result of previous trauma. People who are diagnosed can face stigma surrounding their diagnosis which can make accessing the support they need difficult.
Borderline Personality Disorder affects everyone differently; however, you may experience:
- Feelings of isolation or abandonment
- Difficulty coping with strong emotions
- Suicidal thoughts
- Relationship struggles
- Stress that can be hard to manage
- Difficulty understanding other people’s views
- Drug or alcohol misuse
To receive a BPD diagnosis, you must experience 5 symptoms.
Lots of people with a BPD diagnosis don’t receive the support they need which is why we have collated information and resources to increase awareness, understanding and support.
Further information:
Lived experience resources:
Rethink’s lived experience blog posts
NSUN’s member blog post: Borderline Personality Disorder – the diagnosis and me
Support:
Find support services for your mental health here.