Members of a support network for people diagnosed with a personality disorder have shared how it has made a difference to their lives.
The Specialist Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service User Network (SUN) is a community-based support service. It is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service.
The network runs support groups for people aged 18 and over who have been diagnosed with, or may have, personality disorder. It also offers support for their families.
The groups help people to connect and support each other, as well as learn more about personality disorder and ways of helping themselves or their loved ones to stay well.
Patients and carers can also join the Service Development Collaborative to work alongside staff from the Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service to develop and improve the Trust’s services.
More than 1 million people in the UK are living with borderline personality disorder, however it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood.
Members of the SUN have shared their experiences for Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month to show how it is possible to live well with the condition with the right support.
SUN member Sky said: “It’s been extremely helpful, especially the peer support group. It’s something I look forward to every week – it feels like a FaceTime call with friends.
“I always feel extremely welcome in all of the groups that I attend, there is always support there for me. The people who work for the SUN are lovely people, so kind and validating, and I am extremely grateful to be a part of the SUN.”
Fellow SUN member Emma said it has helped her feel more confident and at ease. She said: “Being around people who truly understand creates a sense of safety and belonging – almost like being part of a family where shared experiences are met with empathy rather than judgment.
“When I attended my first coffee group, my anxiety was overwhelming, but the warmth and support of everyone there helped me settle in and gradually build my confidence.
“The SUN has become an incredibly valuable service for me. Being part of it has genuinely felt like a lifeline.”
Another member who did not wish to be identified said the network has helped them learn skills and contribute to improving services, which has given them a sense of belonging.
They said: “I’ve learnt that I have purpose and value, I’ve made meaningful connections. I’ve been more able to self-manage when things get tough and I’ve a place to go to when I’m struggling.
“I’ve gained great insight into how personality disorder affects me and learnt how to better navigate this. I’ve needed less support from services as I’m more sure of myself.
“Most of all I’ve found a place where I’m accepted having personality disorder and not judged for it, a place I can call home.”
EPUT staff member Mike Buss is a Service User Network Facilitator, who helps to run the groups and education sessions.
He said: “Working alongside our service users feels not just like a job, but a genuine privilege. I’m aware that the support I offer can be quietly transformative, and that my own lived understanding helps me connect with people on a meaningful level.
“Through our psychoeducational sessions, I aim to help members make sense of the patterns, emotions, and skills that can support them in managing their diagnosis. These sessions turn knowledge into a source of empowerment rather than self‑judgment, giving people tools they can carry into their daily lives.”
Mike said the peer support groups help people to speak openly, sometimes for the first time, and not feel judged.
“It’s never about “fixing” anyone. It’s about helping people feel understood, connected, and empowered,” he said.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is developing three in‑person Coffee and Connect groups across Essex over the past 18 months. These informal meet‑ups give members the chance to practise connection, rebuild trust, and rediscover social confidence.
“Small conversations often become turning points, and watching anxiety soften and confidence grow over just 90 minutes is genuinely heart‑warming.”
Read more about the Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Service User Network on their webpage.
You can learn more about borderline personality disorder on the BPD Foundation UK website.
Information about EPUT
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/