Borderline Personality Disorder and Suicide

I’m really glad I made it through because it wasn’t easy. Psychotherapy and support from my loved ones really helped. I learned that storms eventually pass and that you can have borderline personality disorder and be happy.

Alexandra

What is borderline personality disorder?

Over time, everyone builds relationships with those around them. It’s normal to be afraid that these bonds could break. But people with borderline personality disorder tend to be acutely fearful of losing meaningful relationships. They easily feel abandoned or rejected by others, which can create conflicts with friends and family.

How to recognize borderline personality disorder

People with borderline personality disorder may:

Have unstable relationships and frequent conflicts with their loved ones
Have a negative self-image, feel misunderstood, and put themselves down
Have mood swings
Have bouts of anger
Have hostile or rigid attitudes (always having the last word or being overbearing or jealous)
Often change their minds
Engage in impulsive, deviant, or self-destructive behaviour to regulate their emotions, such as alcohol, medication, or drug use, overspending, dangerous driving, unsafe sex, self-harm or criminal activities
Express suicidal thoughts or make suicide attempts

Borderline personality disorder and suicidal thoughts

People with borderline personality disorder may have suicidal thoughts. If this is the case for you, consult the following sections:

01 Taking stock of your mental health

The first step toward taking back control is identifying what’s causing your suicidal thoughts.

Understand what I'm going through

02 Taking care of yourself

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself and regain your balance when you’re having suicidal thoughts.

Find tools to help

03 Talking about it with your loved ones

Asking for help from your family and friends isn’t always easy. There are different ways of going about it.

Find ways to talk about it

04 Finding support services

Every day, all sorts of people contact support services to get the help they need.

Find help

What to do if you have borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder can be treated. If you have symptoms of the disorder, first call Info-Social at 811, option 2, to discuss your situation with a psychosocial worker and be referred, if necessary, to resources in your area that can provide support.

For an assessment and follow-up with a healthcare professional, consult a general practitioner (your family doctor, for example), a psychologist or contact your local CLSC.

Other resources can help people with borderline personality disorder.

Find resources