Courses · Mental Health & Positive Outcomes
Supporting a Person Living with a Personality Disorder
Understand personality disorders — especially borderline personality disorder — without stigma, respond well to self-harm and crisis, and hold consistent, compassionate boundaries.
About this certificate
This is a non-accredited professional development module and the Certificate of Completion is not a Statement of Attainment. It does not qualify you to diagnose, assess risk formally, or provide therapy such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Clinical decisions belong to the person and their treating team. In an emergency call 000; for crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
About this module
People living with a personality disorder, particularly borderline personality disorder (BPD), face some of the most intense stigma in the mental health system — including from services and staff. This module explains what personality disorders are, the link with trauma, the experience of BPD from the inside, what good evidence-based treatment looks like, validation, consistency and boundaries, responding to self-harm and suicidal crisis, avoiding splitting within teams, and looking after yourself.
Who it is for
Support workers, SIL staff and psychosocial recovery workers supporting a participant living with a personality disorder.
What you will be able to do
- Describe personality disorders, and borderline personality disorder in particular, without stigma
- Explain the relationship between trauma and personality disorder
- Use validation and consistent boundaries in everyday support
- Respond safely and compassionately to self-harm and suicidal crisis
- Work consistently as a team and look after your own wellbeing
Aligned to
- NDIS Practice Standards — Provision of Supports
- National Framework for Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Services
- NHMRC Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Borderline Personality Disorder
Lesson plan
What the module covers
| # | Lesson | What it covers | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Understanding personality disorders | What the term means, where it comes from, and why stigma is the first thing to address. | 12m |
| 02 | Validation, consistency and boundaries | What helps day to day, and how teams can work well together. | 12m |
| 03 | Self-harm, crisis and looking after yourself | Responding safely, without judgement, and without burning out. | 11m |
| ✓ | Final assessment | 10 scenario-based questions · pass mark 80% · unlimited attempts | ~15m |
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