This year’s BPD Awareness Week theme, ‘Connection Changes Outcomes: In BPD, Every Interaction Matters’, puts relationships at the heart of recovery.
For people living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), how others respond to them can shape how safe, hopeful and supported they feel.
Stigma, misunderstanding, rejection and invalidation can deepen shame, distress and disconnection. Empathy, safety, consistency and understanding do the opposite. They can reduce crisis and build hope for recovery. The language and words that we choose, the way we listen and whether we stay present when things get hard can all change what happens next.
I have seen many times how even the most well-meaning support staff have inadvertently created or inflated a situation that could have been avoided, through better education and understanding of this widely misunderstood diagnosis. I have personally heard psychologists say that they will ‘refuse’ to work with someone with this diagnosis, saying it is ‘too hard’, leaving them with no support and ultimately at even higher risk of becoming unwell.
This is just not good enough, and things need to change.
The campaign calls on people living with BPD, carers, clinicians, policy makers, politicians and the wider community to help create safer, more compassionate spaces where recovery is possible.
- People living with BPD need others to listen without judgement, stay present during distress, and see their strengths, resilience and humanity, not only a diagnosis or a moment of crisis.
- Carers need to be included, understood and practically supported, with reassurance that relationships can improve over time.
- Clinicians often know that language, tone, consistency and presence can make a lasting difference, but may not have the time, training or system support to work in the ways they value most.
- Politicians can help by promoting greater awareness of BPD and advocating for the rights and needs of people living with BPD, both within the mental health system and across state and federal government, and
- Policy makers, system leaders and the community are being asked to recognise that connection, continuity of care and relational safety are not optional extras. They are central to effective support and recovery.
What this means for providers
For anyone working in disability, mental health or community support, every interaction is a chance to build trust. Like in any relationship, trust is key. Listening well, keeping your word, staying calm and consistent, and responding with warmth rather than judgement can help someone feel safe enough to keep reaching out. These skills can grow with education, understanding, and practice.
If you’d like to deepen your understanding of personality disorders, including how to offer respectful and effective support, NGO Training Centre’s Personality Disorder course is a great place to start. It covers what personality disorder is, the three clusters, risk factors, and practical ways to support the humans you work alongside.
This BPD Awareness Week, think about the small moments. Train your staff, create awareness. Reduce stigma.
A little more patience, a kinder word, or simply staying present can change someone’s day, and sometimes their lives.
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Author: Amanda Robinson (She/Her) BA, MMHealthPrac.
Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country
Amanda, Head of Learning and Development and an experienced specialist in NDIS and Aged Care, promotes capability and sustainability within the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, a Master’s in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and an MBA underway, she offers extensive expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A military veteran and dedicated carer of a veteran, Amanda advocates for Human Rights, striving to reduce stigma and eliminate barriers for those with disability and mental health challenges. She is enthusiastic about fostering strong stakeholder relationships through her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analytical abilities.
