Support services for personality disorders
A personality disorder is a condition where someone’s personality traits – the way they think, feel and behave – can be very intense or different from what’s typical, which can lead to difficulties or distress in their life.
Personality disorders may be hard to deal with, but various services are available to help. By seeking advice from a mental health professional and establishing a strong support network, it’s possible to manage the symptoms and to lead a satisfying and fulfilling life.
Check out the information and services available for people with personality disorders.
Urgent help
If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger, please call 000.
Feeling distressed and want to talk to someone right now? You can find a list of free, confidential helplines and chat services on our Urgent Help page.
Getting professional help for personality disorders
If you think you or someone you know might have symptoms of a personality disorder, it’s important to seek professional help. A mental health practitioner can help you to figure out what’s going on and identify your best treatment options.
The most common treatment for people with a personality disorder is dialectical behaviour therapy. This therapeutic method helps people to cope better by identifying, managing and changing their emotional responses.
Learn more about how to find a health professional that’s right for you.
Support services for people with personality disorders
Services, information and resources for people living with complex mental health needs.
Call 1800 187 263 between 10 am and 8 pm on weekdays (excluding public holidays). Visit the SANE Australia website for factsheets and more information.
Provides comprehensive resources on a range of topics, including personality disorders.
Read Orygen’s borderline personality disorder factsheet, or visit the Orygen website for more information.
Free or low-cost health and mental health support for young people aged 12–25.
Government health information service with information about personality disorders and links to additional services.
Visit the HealthDirect website for more information.
Information and support for family members and friends of people living with personality disorders.
Visit the Out of the FOG website for more information.
Online discussion space with threads about different personality disorders.
Visit the Psychforums website for more information.
Provides online support for families and friends of someone with borderline personality disorder.
Visit the BPD Family website for more information.
Resources for those affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD), one of the most common personality disorders in young people. Services include online support groups, educational materials for individuals and families, and direct referrals to specialised BPD services.
Visit the Australian BPD Foundation website for more information.
University of Wollongong Project providing comprehensive resources for people living with personality disorders and their families and friends.
Visit the Project AIR website for more information.
Victorian clinical centre specialising in personality disorders and complex trauma. Services include specialist treatment for people with complex care needs, secondary consultations with other service providers, and second opinion assessments for consumers of area mental health and wellbeing services.
Visit the Spectrum website for more information.
Free support group run by Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA), in Melbourne, for people living with or affected by borderline personality disorder.
Visit the MHFA website for more information.
What can I do now?
Get more information on personality disorders.
Find out more about the most common personality disorder, borderline personality disorder.
If you are in urgent need of help, contact the mental health crisis team in your state.