After being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) when she was just 18 years old, Baylie McKnight would travel from Victoria to Vancouver to get treatment every week.

B次元官网网址淭here wasnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of accessible services,B次元官网网址� McKnight said, who decided to make a change.

In 2010, McKnight established the BPD Society of BC in Victoria, which has since expanded to Nanaimo, Vancouver, New Westminster, and online.

Her dedication to creating a safe space around the disorder has not gone unnoticed as in May, Coast Mental Health in Vancouver nominated her for a Courage to Come Back Award.

B次元官网网址淚 really saw the stigma that was surrounding BPD and the gaps in service in communities. And I wanted to change that,B次元官网网址� she said.

BPD is a psychiatric disorder characterized by difficulties in regulating emotions and controlling impulses. Individuals with BPD often display intense anger, self-injury, or suicidal behaviours as a result of these challenges.

B次元官网网址�10 per cent of people with BPD end their lives,B次元官网网址� she said.

There are nine symptoms associated with BPD. If someone has five or more of them, they can be diagnosed with the disorder.

For those with the disease, efforts need to be made to avoid abandonment, unstable relationships, impulsive behaviour that harms oneself, suicidal tendencies, mood regulation difficulties, chronic feelings of emptiness, inappropriate or uncontrollable anger, and paranoid thoughts.

Before McKnightB次元官网网址檚 diagnosis at age 18, she had noticed mental health symptoms at 11. By the age of 14, she was living in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver and using drugs. She decided to get clean after her father told her she would be a big sister.

B次元官网网址淚 decided to get clean,B次元官网网址� McKnight said. B次元官网网址淏e a good role model for her.B次元官网网址�

She would start volunteering, doing street outreach and talking to high school students about her experiences. Then, she would go to a post-secondary education.

B次元官网网址淚 went on to get my Masters in clinical social work, which was a dream of mine,B次元官网网址� said McKnight. B次元官网网址淟ast year, I opened a private practice providing dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) to folks living with BPD, primarily complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). ItB次元官网网址檚 my passion.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淒BT was developed to support highly suicidal individuals specifically. It has four modules: emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and distress tolerance are generally 24 weeks.B次元官网网址�

Stigma and misunderstanding around BPD can lead people not to seek help.

B次元官网网址淧art of it was also because it has been seen as a wastebasket diagnosis, or untreatable, which again isnB次元官网网址檛 true,B次元官网网址� added McKnight.

If a person with BPD can get treatment, they can recover and live a healthy life, and this is the message that McKnight and the BPD Society of BC would like to promote.

B次元官网网址淭hat is a huge reason why I started the support group because it is by and for people living with the disorder and their loved ones. And so itB次元官网网址檚 a place where people can talk about similar shared experiences and recognize that theyB次元官网网址檙e not alone.B次元官网网址�

To find out more, please visit bpdbc.ca.