- Categories:
- Health
- Tags:
- AwarenessMental Health
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May
- Holiday emoji:
- 💜
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month takes place throughout May, as declared by the U.S. House of Representatives. This month is dedicated to spreading awareness, encouraging individuals to seek help, and ending the pervasive stigma surrounding borderline personality disorder. Join us in advocating for better understanding and support for those living with BPD.
Want to sponsor Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month? Learn how
Expected Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month Deals
Throughout Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial fundraising and advocacy efforts. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) lead campaigns, often partnering with corporations for donation matching programs or awareness drives. Expect to see special events, educational webinars, and opportunities to contribute to research and support services. Many mental health organizations offer resources and ways to get involved directly on their websites. We will update this page with confirmed live events and campaigns as May approaches.
Platform Guide for Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #BPDMonth. Share personal stories of resilience or educational infographics to spread awareness and reduce stigma.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #BPDMonth. Participate in live discussions, share links to reputable resources, and amplify messages from mental health advocates.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #BPDMonth. Join community groups, share personal experiences, and promote local support events.
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month Hero
Marsha Linehan
History of Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Before 1980, borderline personality disorder (BPD) was not officially diagnosable. It was only in that year that it was added into the third edition of “Diagnostic Manual for Mental Disorders.” Its history, however, goes back much further.
The term ‘borderline’ was coined by Adolf Stern, a New York-based psychoanalyst in 1938. He used this word because he believed that the condition lay on the borderline between psychosis and neurosis.
Harvard University psychiatrist George Valliant stated in his article written in 1992 that borderline personality disorder diagnoses often reflected the frustrated responses of the clinicians to their patients with BPD. Barry University Psychiatrist Len Sperry in a 2003 review stated that borderline personality disorder is the most-researched personality disorder. And this is true even to this day.
In May of 2007, the NEABPD (National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder) organized a number of hearings before Congress to enlighten the legislators about BPD. And it was a year later, in April 2008, that the U.S. House of Representatives declared the month of May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month.
As for the disorder itself, BPD’s symptoms include risky behaviors like reckless driving and substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, mood swings, feelings of emptiness, out-of-control anger, continuous efforts to prevent real or imagined abandonment, and stress-based paranoia.
The causes of BPD can be one of three things: genetics (parental), neurobiological changes (functional and structural changes in the brain’s areas that control impulses and emotions), and external factors (history of trauma, like physical- and emotional abuse).
Therapy methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mentalization-based therapy (MBT) are effective in treating BPD. However, since the roots of the disorder lie in feelings of loneliness and fear of abandonment, family members and friends also play a crucial role.
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month timeline
Otto Kernberg places ‘borderline personality’ in the middle of psychosis and neurosis, thus defining the boundaries.
Harvard University psychiatrist and Professor John Gunderson publishes the first research on the diagnosis of BPD.
American psychologist and author Marsha Linehan introduces DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) as an effective BPD treatment.
The month of May is declared as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month by the U.S. House of Representatives.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Local businesses can play a vital role in Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month by fostering supportive environments and promoting mental health resources. Consider hosting educational workshops for employees, partnering with local mental health organizations for a donation drive, or simply displaying informational posters to raise awareness. Offering flexible work arrangements or promoting mental health days can also signal a commitment to employee well-being, helping to reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges.
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month FAQs
When is Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month?
In 2027, BPD Awareness Month will again be observed throughout May, serving as a crucial period for advocacy and education on this mental health condition.
How many people are affected by Borderline Personality Disorder?
Globally, the prevalence of BPD is estimated to be around 1.6%, with women diagnosed more frequently than men. Awareness efforts during May 2027 aim to reach a broader audience to ensure more people receive timely diagnosis and treatment.
What is the primary goal of BPD Awareness Month?
Beyond awareness, the month in 2027 also focuses on promoting early intervention, improving access to evidence-based therapies like DBT, and advocating for policies that support mental health care for those with BPD.
What are common misconceptions about Borderline Personality Disorder?
Another misconception is that BPD only affects women, or that it’s the same as bipolar disorder. BPD affects all genders, and while it shares some symptoms with other conditions, it has distinct diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches.
How to Observe Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Celebrate their strengths
Encourage people with BPD to not hide but come out and talk about what they are going through. Celebrate their strengths to make them feel free.
Encourage people
Encourage the people in your neighborhood to reach out to those with BPD. Promote their strengths and turn the challenges they face into a language of strength.
Watch movies to find out more
Many Hollywood movies will help you learn more about BPD such as “Uncut Gems” (2019), “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), “Silver Linings Playbook” (2014), “Welcome to Me” (2014), “Prozac Nation” (2001), and “One Hour Photo” (2002).
5 Facts About Borderline Personality Disorder
14 million
Over 14 million Americans suffer from BPD.
High suicide rates
The rate at which BPD individuals commit suicide is 400 times that of the general population.
Third leading cause of death
BPD is the third leading cause of death among women aged 15 to 24.
Untreatable disorder
Due to its nature, BPD is sometimes called “the untreatable disorder.”
More than Schizophrenia
The number of people with BPD is higher than those with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder combined.
Why Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month Is Significant
It spreads awareness
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month is aimed at spreading awareness about BPD and eliminate any stigma or false ideas surrounding it.
It celebrates the strengths of the individuals
Those who have BPD undergo a lot of stress from the intense feelings of abandonment and loneliness. Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month is here to celebrate their strengths and help them share their feelings with others. This makes them feel supported and loved.
It promotes better health of the mind
Mental health is a prominent topic in current society. It is important to promote the importance of a healthy mind in being better individuals.
Social Media Tips for Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Individuals
Creators
Brands