Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month: Breaking the Stigma

May 1, 2026

May is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Awareness Month — a time to challenge stigma, share accurate information, and highlight effective supports that promote recovery and well-being.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex but treatable mental health condition that affects how a person experiences and manages emotions. People with BPD often feel emotions very intensely, very quickly, and for more extended periods of time than others.

BPD affects approximately 1–2% of Canadians, with higher rates observed in clinical settings.

Source: CAMH – Ontario

The Human Side of BPD

Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is not only a clinical experience—it is deeply human. It shapes how a person experiences emotion, relationships, and everyday interactions, often in ways that can feel intense, overwhelming, and difficult to explain.

This is reflected in our upcoming virtual workshop, Papercuts and Hurricanes, taking place on May 20 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., which explores the emotional experience of BPD through two lenses: the “paper cuts” of everyday interactions that can feel unexpectedly painful, and the “hurricanes” of intense emotional moments that can feel overwhelming and difficult to manage.

Led by guest facilitator Hannah Hefler, the session offers a deeper look at how emotional experiences can feel overwhelming at times, and how insight, connection, and support can create meaningful pathways forward. Read Hannah’s story here.

Understanding Causes and Challenging Myths

There is no single cause of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Current research suggests that BPD develops through a combination of genetic factors, differences in brain structure and function, and early life experiences.

Many of the emotional and behavioural patterns associated with BPD are linked to difficulties in emotion regulation, often shaped by experiences such as trauma, neglect, or invalidation during childhood.

While the causes are complex, what is clear is that BPD is not a reflection of character or personality, but a mental health condition influenced by multiple biological and environmental factors.

Despite growing understanding, BPD continues to be surrounded by stigma and misinformation, which can create barriers to care and discourage people from seeking support. The following myths help separate fact from fiction.

Source: BPD Alliance

MYTH: Borderline Personality Disorder is a permanent condition that cannot improve or be treated.

FACT: BPD is a treatable condition. Research shows that many people experience significant improvement over time, particularly with evidence-based therapies.

MYTH: The term “Borderline Personality Disorder” accurately reflects current clinical understanding of the condition.

FACT: The term “borderline” is considered outdated and originates from early 20th-century psychoanalytic theory, when the condition was thought to fall “between” psychosis and neurosis. It does not reflect current clinical understanding of the disorder.

There is ongoing discussion in the research and clinical community about renaming BPD to better reflect its core features and reduce stigma. Proposed alternatives include terms such as “emotional dysregulation disorder” or “emotional processing disorder,” reflecting the central role of emotion regulation difficulties in the condition. While no official change has been made, this reflects a broader shift toward more accurate and less stigmatizing language.²

MYTH: People with BPD have a flawed personality.

FACT: BPD is not a personality flaw. It is a complex mental health condition shaped by interactions between biological, psychological, and environmental factors, including brain-based differences in emotion regulation systems.

MYTH: People with Borderline Personality Disorder are attention-seeking or manipulative.

FACT: These terms are widely considered stigmatizing and inaccurate. Many behaviours associated with BPD are best understood as responses to intense emotional distress and difficulties regulating emotions, rather than intentional attempts to manipulate or seek attention. These behaviours often reflect attempts to cope with overwhelming internal experiences or communicate unmet needs.

How BPD is Diagnosed

BPD is diagnosed through a comprehensive clinical assessment, typically conducted by a trained mental health professional. Diagnosis involves:

A detailed clinical interview
Review of emotional, relational, and behavioral patterns over time
Assessment of how symptoms impact functioning
Consideration of alternative or co-occurring conditions

Diagnosis is based on patterns over time, not a single behavior, crisis, or interaction.

Treatment for BPD

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is treatable, and many people experience meaningful improvement and recovery over time with the right support.

Treatment is not one-size-fits-all. It is typically most effective when it combines structured psychotherapy, practical skill-building, and supports that address individual needs.

Source: American Psychiatric Association; NICE Guidelines for Borderline Personality Disorder (CG78); CAMH; Zanarini et al. longitudinal research on BPD outcomes.

Resources

Books on Borderline Personality Disorder

Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC, CMHA.ca, Project 375, the Linehan Institute, psychologytoday.com, Sashbear.org