Borderline personality disorder: recognition and management

Information for families and carers

Living with a person with borderline personality disorder can be difficult and challenging. Families and carers can play an important part in supporting a person with borderline personality disorder, especially if the family member or friend is young. But families and carers may also need help and support themselves. Healthcare professionals should give you information about local family and carer support groups.

It is up to the person with borderline personality disorder whether they would like family members or carers involved in their treatment. They might ask for you to be involved or this might be encouraged by their healthcare professional. But if the person with borderline personality disorder would prefer to cope on their own, you are still entitled to an assessment of any physical and mental health needs you have, and to support.