Sep 30

Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Week: 1-7 October 2024

The BPD Awareness Week theme for 2024 is focussed on living life well. Everyone is on their own journey and the word ‘recovery’ may mean different things to different people. It takes time, effort and patience. Be kind to yourself and celebrate progress, no matter how small. You are worthy!

Research shows that with appropriate treatment and support people with BPD 'recover' and lead a life that’s meaningful to them. For carers – (people supporting a family member/friend living with BPD) recovery may mean different things for us than for the person we are supporting. We must develop our own support network and learn healthy relationship skills to maintain our well-being.

For people with lived experience, you can encourage others to feel that recovery is possible, based on your own lived experience. By sharing your story, you are creating hope.

PROJECT AIR – University of Woolongong

Project Air Strategy for Personality Disorders at the University of Wollongong in NSW works with the community, families, carers, consumers and health and drug and alcohol services and agencies, to support better treatments for personality disorders.

Project Air has developed and evaluated a range of interventions for health services, schools and clinicians. They build capacity to help health services, schools and communities identify and respond effectively to suicide risk, self-harm and complex mental health presentations.

Below are links to a comprehensive range of Project Air Resources, including Fact Sheets, Lived Experience Stories, and Services available in each state and territory.

Fact sheets - uow.edu.au

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

You’ve been diagnosed with BPD – what now? Myths and Facts about BPM

Coping Skills and Resources for people with BPD

Coping skills help us to get through difficult times - they can provide an important break from mental and emotional distress. Following are just a few resources for you to try and see what works best for you.

Check out these amazing resources:

Coping Skills Flyer - by Indigo Daya. Other resources are available on her website

Strategies for Coping with Distressing Voices - poster was developed by the Hearing Voices Network Australia and offers several skills to help manage internal distress.

Journaling as a Path to Hope - peer presentation from the The MHS conference 2021

Distraction Techniques and Alternative Coping Strategies

DBT-RU - a series of YouTube clips from Rutgen University (USA) from their Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Clinic at Rutgers University.

DBT Regulator is a program prepared by Mission Australia designed to help with substance use by building on a person's ability to identify and manage emotions, communicate effectively with others, and to get through tough times without making them worse.

Do you or someone you know need help?

If you or someone you know is at immediate risk, call 000 or visit your nearest hospital. For support with suicidal thoughts, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.