
Supporting someone with borderline personality disorder
There are several things you can do to help someone who has a borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- Learn about BPD and talk about it with your family member or friend.
- Be aware that people with BPD can easily get offended and may overreact at times. Try to be patient with them and show your support by listening and being there for them.
- Support them through life changes such as moving house or getting a new job.
- Supporting someone else with a mental health disorder can be stressful. Remember to have time out for yourself and look after your own wellbeing.
The websites listed on Overview of borderline personality disorder have information that might help you support your family member or friend.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created May 2020.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
Mental Health Foundation – Borderline personality disorder, retrieved December 2017.
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists – Borderline personality disorder (https://www.yourhealthinmind.org/mental-illnesses-disorders/bpd), retrieved December 2017.
Image and embedded video sources
Man showing different emotions image from Shutterstock (image ID 198373892). November 2022.
Two women walking together image from mychillybin (image ID 102544_417). May 2020.
Woman showing different emotions image from Shutterstock (image ID 277529048). November 2022.
Woman talking to counsellor image from Shutterstock (image ID 305024918). December 2018.
Page reference: 755074
Review key: HIBPD-503517