Carer Support Group for Families & Friends Supporting Someone with BPD

This carer support group is for families, friends and carers supporting someone with a diagnosis (or a likely diagnosis of) borderline personality disorder (BPD). It provides an opportunity for family members, friends and carers to connect with those with similar experiences, gain strength, build resilience and hope, and receive support from each other and learn new ways of coping through each other’s experience.

We expect all participants to treat each other with care, consideration and dignity and be respectful of the diversity of experiences. This is an online space and we will endeavour to ensure that it's a safe space where you will feel heard. We ask participants to join from a private space where they feel comfortable.

The group is not a therapy group although it may be therapeutic.

NB This support group is for family and friends who provide care and support in a voluntary capacity to those experiencing BPD. Because of differing needs, this group is not for people with borderline personality disorder or paid carers unless they in a caring role as well.

Our groups aim to:

• Provide a confidential and non-judgemental space to talk about feelings and concerns with people who may have similar experiences
• Reduce isolation and feelings that ‘it is only happening to me’
• Provide peer support
• Assist with learning and developing skills
• Empower you in your caring journey
• Provide a space to think about new ways of relating to the person with BPD
• Encourage a balance between providing support to others and self-care
  
  The support group will run every first Wednesday of the month except January.
  
  Registration: You will need to register separately for each sessions. Please note that numbers are limited, only register for the groups you intend to attend and let us know as early as possible if you are unable to attend, so we can invite someone from the waitlist.

Who runs our groups? The groups are facilitated by a peer co-facilitator and a clinician experienced in working with BPD. Speakers from specific areas of mental health may also be invited at the group’s request. The role of the group facilitator is to encourage people in the group to express their opinions, experiences and ideas in a supportive way so that members can learn from each other. Mutual Support Self Help groups are based on the theory of mutual aid, whereby the facilitator helps people to help each other.

Who should attend: This support group is for family and friends who provide care and support in a voluntary capacity to those experiencing BPD. Because of differing needs, this group is not for people with borderline personality disorder or paid carers unless they in a caring role as well. it is not recommended for people under 18 to attend.

Cost: Free

Online: All of the support groups will run online via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your registered email address a few days beforehand.

Cancellation: If your circumstances change and you no longer can attend this event please log into your eventbrite account or email spectrumcarers@easternhealth.org.au to cancel your ticket. We can then offer your place to someone on our waitlist.

General enquiries: Email spectrumcarers@easternhealth.org.au or phone Spectrum (03) 8413 8750.