Information for the public
Who will provide my treatment?
You should receive most of your treatment from your community mental health service (this might include a personality disorder service where available), although your GP may be involved in your physical health needs and support in a crisis. If you harm yourself you may receive some treatment from the ambulance service and A&E.
Your healthcare team, together with you and your family or carers (if you agree to them being involved), should develop a plan for your treatment. This plan should say who is responsible for different aspects of your care, what you hope to achieve from treatment in the short and long term (including goals relating to education, training or work), and what needs to happen to help you achieve this. It should also identify what may lead to you having a crisis, how you can help yourself during these times, and what to do if you need further support, such as help from out-of-hours teams and crisis teams.
People with borderline personality disorder should receive most of their care in the community, but may need treatment in hospital in rare circumstances. Healthcare professionals should offer other services, such as crisis teams, that can provide treatment and care in the person's home, before considering admission to hospital. People should only be admitted to hospital if there is a crisis and a great risk to the person or others, or if the person needs treatment under the Mental Health Act.
If your healthcare professional thinks that a stay in hospital would help you, they should involve you in the decision. They should agree with you before you go into hospital how long the stay should last and why you are being admitted. If you have been in hospital for treatment for borderline personality disorder on two or more occasions in the past 6 months your treatment and care should be reviewed.
Your rights and your relationship with your healthcare team
You should not be excluded from any services because of a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder or your ethnicity, or if you have self-harmed.
Your healthcare team should work with you to help you to make your own decisions about your treatment options and goals. You should be encouraged and supported to find solutions to your problems, including during a crisis, because this will help to build your confidence.
Your healthcare team should build a relationship with you based on hope, optimism and trust. Healthcare professionals should be non-judgemental, consistent and reliable. They should also be aware of any sensitive issues such as fears of rejection, possible abuse and trauma, or self-harm, and issues related to receiving a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Options for treatment should be fully explored with you and it should be explained that recovery from borderline personality disorder is possible and achievable.