NHFT launches a skills based program for families and carers facing Borderline Personality Disorder challenges
Families and carers of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) will have access to a skills based programme provided by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), launching this November.
Family Connections is a 12 week programme developed by the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD). NHFT’s Personality Disorder Hub is offering this programme to families and carers across Northamptonshire who have loved ones experiencing BPD. It will provide participants with current information, teaches coping skills and create the opportunity to develop a support network amongst peers.
NHFT works with young people and adults experiencing BPD to provide outstanding care. The Family Connections Programme will further provide support for families and carers of individuals living with BPD. Studies show that family members and carers who experience Family Connections benefit from decreased grief, reduced distress and depression and improved self-belief to manage their situation. This programme will also seek to improve the outcome for people with the diagnosis, through their support networks.
Dr Chris Berry, Service Manager for the Personality Disorder Hub at NHFT, said: “People who experience Borderline Personality Disorder often experience complex issues, and it important that they have a support network to aid their recovery. By implementing a Family Connections programme, we can provide family and carers with the skills they need to support individual’s living with BPD and ensure that they have the care they need during this time.”
The 12-week course focuses on skills training based on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (an evidence-based therapy to treat borderline personality disorder), relationship mindfulness and effective communication. The format of the classes allows group participants to obtain information as well as acquire and practice the application of skills in a confidential and supportive environment.
To find out more about Family Connections and arrange an initial telephone appointment call 01604 658834 or email: personalitydisorderhub@nhft.nhs.uk. This workshop isn’t available to people who suffer from BPD, only to adult family members and close friends. The sessions will be delivered remotely via Zoom.