Borderline Arts

Who Borderline Arts Are

Borderline Arts is the only charity in the UK that focuses specifically on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We use the arts to raise awareness of BPD – a severe and enduring mental health condition. Through increasing understanding of the condition, we not only educate people but also break down the stigma surrounding it.

1% of the population have a diagnosis of BPD and 1 in 10 individuals with BPD die from suicide. Despite this, very few people know what BPD is or how to effectively support those with the condition. We want to help change that and that is why we exist! 

So what do we do?

Exhibitions of Artwork created by individuals with BPD. Their art expresses their experience of living the condition.

Theatre/Film Projects which help raise understanding of BPD. These projects are not solely for people with BPD. We join with local arts professionals and artists/actors.

Creative Educational Workshops which are aimed health care professionals/students and carers/family/friends of people with BPD. The session helps participants to express their personal thoughts and feelings about BPD, learn more about the condition and learn ways to sensitively relate to someone with BPD.

Art Group and Writing Group for Adults with BPD which run on a monthly basis – a relaxed creative space focussing on the positive aspects of who we are.

General Awareness Raising. We have information stands at community events and hold events/fundraisers which are all to raise awareness. We also release articles and share relevant information on our website and social media.

What are we trying to achieve?

• Raise awareness of BPD to the general public to help reduce stigma and improve attitudes to those with the illness
• Encourage social inclusion and provide a creative outlet for sufferers
• Empower those with BPD to feel able to live with and speak about the illness without shame
• Enable adults with BPD to creatively explore the positive aspects of themselves and to see their illness not as who they are, but rather as a list of their (albeit sometimes intolerable) struggles
•  Educate carers and professionals, to help improve the quality of care and relationships for those with BPD
• Strengthen and enrich the local community through the arts

We are not a support service for those with BPD, but rather an awareness raising charity. Having said that, we do empower individuals with the condition to express their experience of the condition in creative ways – this not only helps to raise awareness, but also gives them a voice and a realisation that having the illness is not something to be ashamed of at all.