Background: When someone with lived experience of mental health difficulties provides help to others with similar difficulties, it is generally called peer support. Peer support may be one way to enhance interpersonal relationships, a factor known to improve recovery from borderline personality disorder (BPD). There is little known about peer support in BPD.
Method: Four qualitative studies evaluated peer support for BPD. First, theory was built through an exploration to determine perceptions and possible models of peer support for BPD (Study One). Next, the application of peer support for consumers with BPD and their carers was examined from multiple perspectives (Study Two and Three). Finally, a new peer and clinician co-facilitated group for consumers with BPD was piloted (Study Four).
Results: Consumers with BPD reported experiencing increased hope and connectedness through peer support. Consumer peer workers, however can experience stigma and mistreatment in the workplace (Study O
Study-one
Study-two
Study-four
Study-three
Peer-support
Borderline-personality-disorder
Lived-experience
Recovery