Carer support
Sanctuary
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most serious of mental illnesses, with a prevalence in Australia exceeding that of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder combined.
It is an often-misunderstood condition that has many challenging aspects, for family members as well as clinicians. If you're new to all of this we hope these pages, our meetings and our shared experiences can provide some support.
Sanctuary is run by volunteers. We are not mental health professionals nor clinicians. We are ordinary people who care for someone with BPD.
Resources
Our selection of BPD links, topcs, downloads and resources
Carers Blog
Browse our blog by subject or jump in to see what's new
Tuesday 14 January – Next Meeting
Our next Sanctuary meeting will be on Tuesday, January 14, at 6.00pm, in the Marjorie Black Room at SACOSS, Unley, South Australia. (There is no December Meeting)
Living Life Well – BPD Awareness Week 2024
This week is BPD Awareness Week and the theme is Living Life Well - Recovery and BPD. Professor Brin Grenyer has a helpful and encouraging message for us.
Building Resilience – Self Validation and Boundaries
Self-validation helps to lessen our own distress, and better cope with the ups and downs in our life of supporting someone with BPD. Setting limits can help us build resilience and avoid carer burn out.
Repairing Relationships
Living with the symptoms of BPD is difficult and often this manifests in ruptured relationships. How might we reconnect, repair the relationship and start down the path to recovery?
Getting help in a mental health crisis (UMHCC)
For South Australians, Adelaide has an alternative to a Hospital Emergency Department in a mental health crisis. Call (08) 8448 9100 or ask the ambulance to take you there.
Emotion Dysregulation
Emotion dysregulation is a core symptom of borderline personality disorder, and a key contributor to the intensity and distress of the illness.
Staying Connected
The symptoms of BPD can be so very damaging to relationships. How can we stay connected, and continue towards recovery?
Carers have Rights
Carers have rights in the South Australian Health system. When things aren’t going the way we think they need to go, what can we do?
Planning for Christmas
Special occasions like Christmas can be particularly challenging for someone with BPD, and for their families, who love them. Does it have to be that way?
Assistance for Carers
Mental health carers don't have to do it alone, in South Australia. Help is available.
Basics of BPD
What is Borderline Personality Disorder? What are the challenges for carers and how might we meet them?
Myths and Facts about BPD
Much is written and said about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). What does the evidence tell us? What is a fact and what is just a myth?
Radio Interview “What Ails You: BPD”
In his popular segment "What Ails You?", David Bevan took an in depth look at Borderline Personality Disorder. He was joined by Dr Maria Naso and our own Judy Burke
Supporting Someone in Crisis
Are you supporting someone in crisis? (for family and friends supporting someone with BPD)
Helping Someone With BPD
The RANZ College of Psychiatrists provide this advice about Helping Someone With BPD
Family Connections®
For many Sanctuary carers, this was the turning point in their recovery journey, and it's free: Family Connections®, for the family and close friends of those living with BPD.
An open letter from those with BPD
An Open Letter To people who do Not have Borderline Personality Disorder ... From those who Do
BPD – A Guide to Symptoms, Treatment, and Recovery
When you have BPD, almost everything in your world is unstable: your relationships, moods, thinking, behaviour, even your identity. But there is hope.
Choosing a Therapist
Suggestions about what to look for in a new clinician, and some questions you may like to ask a therapist before you actually make an appointment.
BPD Information for Family and Friends
An overview of Borderline Personality Disorder for Family and Friends of people with BPD
The Nine Symptoms, Explained
What are the symptoms of BPD and how do they affect carers and families.
About Us
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a support group for anyone who cares for a family member or close friend with Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD. Sanctuary is a safe haven, where carers are welcomed and receive support to cope with this serious illness, which often causes much trauma for both carers and those living with BPD.