BPD Awareness Month
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Two Mothers, Two Hearts, Two Tragedies, Two
Countries, One Path
Personal accounts of families turning tragedy into advocacy and hope. These two women offer encouragement to everyone that through knowledge and awareness, “you” can make a difference in the lives of those who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder.
Congressional History
On May 8, 2007, NEABPD organized Congressional Hearings to educate legislators about Borderline Personality Disorder.
Congressional Co-Sponsors for the event were
Tom Davis (R-VA) and Nita Lowey (D-NY)
On April 1, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 414-0, House Resolution 1005 which supports the month of May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month.
Principal Co-Sponsors, H. Res. 1005
Rep Tom Davis (R-VA)
Rep Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
50 Co-Sponsors, H. Res 1005
| Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] – 2/28/2007 Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] – 2/27/2007 Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 2/27/2007 Rep Bono, Mary [CA-45] – 2/27/2007 Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 2/28/2007 Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] – 2/27/2007 Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] – 2/28/2007 Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] – 2/27/2007 Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] – 2/28/2007 Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] – 2/27/2007 Rep Davis, Jo Ann [VA-1] – 2/27/2007 Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] – 2/27/2007 Rep Drake, Thelma D. [VA-2] – 2/28/2007 Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] – 2/27/2007 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] – 2/28/2007 Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] – 2/28/2007 Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] – 2/27/2007 Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] – 2/27/2007 Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] – 2/28/2007 Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] – 2/28/2007 Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] – 2/27/2007 Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] – 2/27/2007 Rep Hastert, J. Dennis [IL-14] – 2/28/2007 Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] – 2/27/2007 Rep Linder, John [GA-7] – 2/27/2007 |
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] – 2/27/2007 Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] – 2/28/2007 Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] – 2/28/2007 Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 2/28/2007 Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] – 2/27/2007 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] – 2/27/2007 Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] – 2/27/2007 Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] – 2/27/2007 Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] – 2/27/2007 Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] – 2/27/2007 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 2/27/2007 Rep Ramstad, Jim [MN-3] – 2/28/2007 Rep Rehberg, Dennis R. [MT] – 2/28/2007 Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] – 2/28/2007 Rep Sali, Bill [ID-1] – 2/27/2007 Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] – 2/28/2007 Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] – 2/27/2007 Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] – 2/27/2007 Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] – 2/28/2007 Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] – 2/27/2007 Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] – 2/28/2007 Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] – 2/28/2007 Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] – 2/27/2007 Rep Wilson, Heather [NM-1] – 2/28/2007 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] – 2/28/2007 |
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Tom Davis, Ranking Member
***MEDIA ALERT***
NEABPD Announces Events for May — Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
The press is invited to join us at any BPD Awareness Month events
WHO:
National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD)
WHAT:
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month May 2015
In 2008, Rep. Tom Davis, R-VA, Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, introduced a resolution (H. Res 1005) on behalf of The National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) to increase awareness of Borderline Personality Disorder.
On April 1, 2008, the resolution to designate May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month passed by a vote of 414-0.
NEABPD will be hosting several events throughout the month of May to raise awareness, express compassion and build a community for those who have been affected by BPD and their families and bring attention to the proven treatments that can help change their lives for the better.
WHEN and WHERE:
May 1, 2015: 11th Annual Yale NEABPD Conference, New Haven Connecticut
Two Tragedies, Two Countries, One Path”
Personal accounts of families turning tragedy into advocacy and hope. These women offer encouragement to everyone that through knowledge and awareness, “you” can make a difference in the lives of those who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder.
May 1, 2015: Website launch of the 2nd “Family Connections © Companion Videos Series
A month-long cumulative series of videos, including role plays, introducing and detailing the Family Connections © program. These previously unpublished videos demonstrate how awareness, education, family skills, and support help people with BPD and their families and other loved ones. The videos also support present and former Family Connections © participants in practicing their skills and becoming more effective in their lives and in providing support for their loved ones.
This video series was developed jointly by NEABPD (Dr. Alan Fruzzetti) and the National Office for Suicide Prevention in Ireland (HSE), who very generously funded much of its production.
May 8th, 2015: New York City –Join the NAMI Walk for BPD
WHY:
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that centers on the inability to manage emotions effectively. The disorder occurs in the context of relationships and often times all relationships are affected. Up to 5.9% of adults or approximately 14 million Americans are afflicted by BPD.
As common as Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder combined, the symptoms include fear of abandonment, impulsivity, anger, bodily self-harm, suicide, feelings of emptiness, and chaotic relationships. Officially recognized in 1980 by the psychiatric community, BPD is more than two decades behind in research, treatment options, and family psycho-education compared to other major psychiatric disorders. BPD has historically met with widespread misunderstanding and stigma; however, evidence- based treatments have emerged over the past two decades by organizations like NEABPD, bringing hope to those diagnosed with the disorder and their loved ones.
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ABOUT NATIONAL EDUCATION ALLIANCE FOR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
Founded in 2001, National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) is a nationally and internationally recognized organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of people affected by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). NEABPD works with families, raises public awareness, works to decrease stigma, promotes research and advocates with Congress to enhance the quality of life of those affected by Borderline Personality Disorder.
| For Immediate Release: April 1, 2008 |
Ranking Member Davis Hails Passage
of Borderline Personality Disorder Legislation
Measures to Strengthen D.C. Court System Also Gain Approval
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Rep. Tom Davis, R-VA., Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today thanked his colleagues for approving legislation he introduced to increase awareness of Borderline Personality Disorder.
BPD afflicts 3 million Americans and accounts for a fifth of those admitted to psychiatric hospitals. The disease, which prevents victims for managing emotions effectively, leads to impulsivity, mood swings, rage, bodily self harm, chaotic relationships and fear of abandonment. BPD victims commit suicide at 400 times the rate of the general public.
The National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder designates May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. Davis’ resolution, which passed 414-0, supports this designation.
“Mental health professionals have recognized this disease since 1980, yet it continues to lag far behind other psychiatric disorders of similar prevalence in research, treatment options and family education,” said Davis. “Raising awareness of this disease is an important first step toward getting the recognition and research dollars that, hopefully, can help future victims and their families avoid the enormous suffering this disease causes now.”
Davis also lauded passage of two measures to improve the District of Columbia court system – one that raised the number of judges from 58 to 61 and another that increased pay for attorneys who represent indigent defendants from $65 per hour to $80 per hour.
Congress previously limited D.C. courts to 58 judges plus one chief judge, unless additional judges were needed for Family Court. The District of Columbia Family Court Act of 2001 increased the number of number of Family Court judges from 12 to 15, which created a backlog among judges not in Family Court. This legislation addresses that backlog.
The move to increase pay for those who represent indigent defendants brings those in D.C. Courts in line with those elsewhere in the federal system, who get $100 per hour.
“These measures should help the D.C. court system perform more effectively,” Davis said. “It’s important that, since Congress has jurisdiction over D.C. courts, that we keep the system functioning properly. These measures will assure the District has the judges it needs and that indigent defendants receive the representation they deserve.”
Statement of Congressman Chris Van Hollen on H. Res. 1005,
Borderline Personality Awareness Month
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1005, a resolution supporting the designation of May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. I want to thank my colleague Tom Davis for his leadership on an issue that is very important to many Americans.
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health illness that centers on the inability of people to manage their emotions effectively. Approximately 4 million Americans suffer from borderline personality disorder. Its symptoms include destructive impulsiveness, rage, marked shifts in mood, bodily self-harm, chaotic relationships, fears of abandonment, substance abuse, and unstable self-identity. Though it was officially recognized in 1980 by the psychiatric community, borderline personality disorder is at least two decades behind in research, treatment options, and education compared to other major mental illnesses.
Borderline personality disorder can have a devastating impact on people’s lives. While some persons with this disorder may be functioning normally in certain settings, their private lives are often in turmoil. Others are unable to work and require financial support. If Americans would like more information on borderline personality disorder, I encourage them to visit the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder website at www.neabpd.org or the National Alliance on Mental Illness website at www.nami.org.
Madam Speaker, this resolution acknowledges the pressing burden of those afflicted with borderline personality disorder and seeks to spread awareness of this under-recognized, and often misunderstood, mental illness. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.