Borderline Personality Disorder

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:34): Yesterday morning, with the member for Taylor I co-hosted a morning tea in Parliament House for community members who sought to raise our awareness of borderline personality disorder. I first learned what it was like having a family member with BPD from a resident, Karen, who was a carer for her daughter. She talked me through some of her devastating journey. Karen is an amazing woman who is determined to raise awareness about BPD and seek support for those living with the condition and their families. It is this commitment, energy and determination that led to our awareness gathering yesterday.

Very briefly, borderline personality disorder is defined as a complex mental illness that can make it difficult for people to feel safe in their relationships with others, to have healthy thoughts and beliefs about themselves and to control their emotions and impulses. Having BPD is a condition of brain and the mind. People living with borderline personality disorder may experience distress in their work and family and social life and may harm themselves. They can be at increased risk of suicide and frequently have contact with a number of agencies and service providers, including hospitals and health services, Drug and Alcohol Services SA, SA Ambulance Service, SAPOL, prison services, general practitioners, NGO community services and housing services.

Currently, between 2 per cent and 5 per cent of Australians are affected by borderline personality disorder at some stage in their lives. Symptoms can often appear between early teens and early adulthood. A complex mental illness that is often misunderstood, those living with BPD often feel stigmatised and frequently discriminated against. While the causes of BPD are not well understood, we do know that biological, social and environmental factors likely play a role. Furthermore, for some people, factors will also be related to childhood experience of trauma and neglect.

Yesterday, Dr Martha Kent OAM explained to us that people living with borderline personality disorder can recover. Talking therapies are improving the lives of those living with the condition. With proper intervention, treatment and support, the prognosis for people with borderline personality disorder is positive. One of the government's priorities is to ensure that all people living with BPD receive the most appropriate treatment and support and are not excluded from mental health services. The member for Taylor, in her former role as minister for mental health, recently released the Borderline Personality Disorder Implementation Plan.

The goal of the BPD Service is to assist in recovery, improve quality of life and minimise the personal and social impacts of people living with BPD. They key focus areas for the BDP service are: case management, access to relevant therapies and support for families, and clinical workforce training. People living with the condition and their families will benefit from this service, as it will improve the quality of life for people experiencing this debilitating illness. A specialised mental health service is the first step towards improving outcomes. The service will collaborate with other front-line agencies including SAPOL, Correctional Services, Housing and Education.

The action plan and its goals include fewer emergency department presentations and reduced hospital admissions; lower rates of substance abuse, self-harm, suicide and restraint; more people recovering and reduced rates of relapse; and lower health and social costs. An evidence-based evaluation of the service's effectiveness in meeting community need will be conducted in its first two years. I am pleased to be part of a government that is putting in place a framework for the delivery of this important service.

Evidence shows that new therapies now mean that borderline personality disorder is a treatable and curable illness with low relapse rates of around 5 per cent to 15 per cent. This means that with the right help and support most people with borderline personality disorder can achieve recovery. At our morning tea yesterday, I met Aaron, who told us of his journey with BPD and how, facing many challenges, today he is employed and studying law part-time. The story of his journey is inspirational.

I offer my since thanks to our speakers—Sharon Law (researcher), Tony (carer), Karen Bailey (carer), Aaron (consumer), Dr Martha Kent (clinician)—and to all those who attended in their various roles of consumers, carers and support practitioners. I also thank the members of parliament who came along to learn more about this condition and to assist those in our community affected by this mental health condition: the Minister for Health, the Hon. Peter Malinauskas; the Hon. Russell Wortley, President of the Legislative Council; the Hon. Kelly Vincent MLC; the member for Fisher (soon to be Hurtle Vale); the member for Morphett; and the member for Florey.

Time expired.