Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

U.S. House of Representatives Supports May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month An Important Step in Raising Awareness

Saturday, April 26, 2008 General News
Advertisement
NEW YORK, April 25 The National Education Alliance forBorderline Personality Disorder (NEA-BPD) and the National Alliance on MentalIllness (NAMI) commended the U.S. House of Representatives for its recentResolution supporting May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month.
Advertisement

On April 1, 2008, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved thebipartisan House Resolution (H. Res. 1005) sponsored by Representatives ThomasDavis (R-VA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to support the goals and ideals of aBorderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. Representative Davis statedthat "Raising awareness of this disease is an important first step towardgetting the recognition and research dollars that, hopefully, can help futurevictims and their families avoid the enormous suffering this disease causes."
Advertisement

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) afflicts 4 million adults andadolescents. BPD is a leading cause of suicide, with a suicide rate 400 timesthe rate of the general public. BPD has a combination of symptoms, includingintense fears of abandonment, episodes of rage, self-injury, substance abuseand impulsive behavior. Many with BPD are unable to work. Others may be highfunctioning in certain settings, though their private lives and relationshipsare often in turmoil.

Relatively new as an official diagnosis, BPD is decades behind inresearch, treatment, awareness and family education. Although BPD is ascommon as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, it is far less known.

According to Perry D. Hoffman, Ph.D., President of NEA-BPD, "BPD is themost misunderstood mental illness, and consequently is often under-recognizedand misdiagnosed. Despite the many myths, research shows that there is muchHOPE for recovery."

Michael Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of NAMI, praised Congress, statingthat "The designation of May as Borderline Personality Disorder AwarenessMonth is an important opportunity to highlight the seriousness and magnitudeof this debilitating condition, as well as to draw public, professional andmedia attention to this mental illness."

For more information, contact NAMI's help line, (800) 950-NAMI, or websiteat www.nami.org, or visit the NEA-BPD website at www.neabpd.org (includes atool kit for raising community awareness).

About the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder(NEA-BPD) --

NEA-BPD is a not-for-profit organization started in 2001 by a group ofpersons with BPD, persons with a relative with BPD, and a mental healthprofessional. NEA-BPD holds annual conferences to disseminate the latestscientific research on causes and treatment of BPD to researchers, clinicians,persons with BPD and family members. See www.neabpd.org.http://www.neabpd.org/

About the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) --

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots organization for people withmental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates inevery state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country. Seewww.nami.org.

SOURCE The National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder
Sponsored Post and Backlink Submission


Latest Press Release on General News

This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close