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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) introduced a House resolution recognizing May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition characterized by difficulties in regulating emotion and is estimated to effect 14 million Americans nationwide.

"For too long, borderline personality disorder has been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or simply ignored," said Congresswoman Escobar. "Recognizing May as BPD Awareness Month is about changing that: bringing this conversation into the light, honoring those living with it, and making clear that compassion, research, and real support shouldn’t wait any longer.”

“For many Americans, BPD is a treatable mental health condition, but because of disproportionately high levels of stigma, individuals either do not seek the care they need or too often experience delayed diagnosed or misdiagnosis.  This bipartisan resolution is a call to action and a reminder that early intervention, accessible treatment and stigma reduction can making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals suffering from BPD and their family and friends who care,” said Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.

“BPD is an under-treated condition marked by painful emotion dysregulation, interpersonal isolation, and impulsivity that frequently includes suicidality and self-harm. This recognition is a necessary first step toward improving the lives of millions of people with BPD and millions more who love them, live and work with them.  Let's build on this momentum to urge the National Institute of Mental Health to prioritize funding more research to improve evidence-based treatments.  Together, we can improve prevention outcomes for people with BPD and bring hope to their families and loved ones,” said Alan Fruzzetti, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno and Board Member Emeritus, BPD Alliance

“This resolution is both a milestone and a starting point. Awareness is essential, and now it's time to follow it with action. We need more trained providers, more comprehensive insurance coverage, and more investment in the evidence-based treatments that can lead to recovery so that people with BPD can have meaningful lives and real hope for the future. The BPD Alliance is committed to working with Representative Escobar and her colleagues in Congress to turn this recognition into real, lasting change for the millions of Americans affected by BPD,” said Julie Frantsve-Hawley, PhD and Board Member, BPD Alliance

“People living with BPD face stigma when clinicians refuse to treat them, insurance plans deny evidence-based care, and healthcare systems turn them away. This stigma delays diagnosis, creates barriers to treatment, and can lead to tragic outcomes, including suicide or overdose. Congressional recognition of BPD Awareness Month sends a clear message: this diagnosis is real, recovery is possible, and no one should be denied care because of a label,” said Antoinette Del Rio, Interim Executive Director, Emotions Matter, Inc

The resolution is endorsed by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), BPD Alliance, American Psychological Association Services, Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, Center for Evidence Based Treatment, Transformation Behavioral Health, Emotions Matter, DBT Institute of Central Illinois, Scandaliato Memorial Foundation, Aspire Advocates for Behavioral Health, Evidence Based Therapy and Consultation of Atlanta, and more.

Full text can be found here or below.

RESOLUTION

Supporting the designation of May 2026 as ‘‘Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month’’.

Whereas borderline personality disorder (in this preamble re-ferred to as ‘‘BPD’’) is a serious and treatable mental health condition characterized by chronic emotion dysregulation that affects how individuals think, feel, and connect with others, and by differences in the way emotions, impulses, and stress are experienced and processed, resulting in challenges including painful emotions, often dangerous behaviors, intermittent struggles with memory and problem solving, disrupted relationships, and difficulties related to identity and sense of self;

Whereas BPD affects approximately 1.6 to 3.9 percent of the general population, representing an estimated 5,500,000 to 13,300,000 United States citizens, and because the condition profoundly affects interpersonal relationships and family dynamics, its impact reaches millions of additional family members, caregivers, loved ones, and communities across the United States;

Whereas approximately 20 to 22 percent of individuals receiving inpatient mental health treatment have BPD;

Whereas 65 to 70 percent of individuals living with BPD atempt suicide and approximately 8 to 10 percent die by suicide;

Whereas individuals living with BPD commonly experience co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders;

Whereas some individuals living with BPD have histories of trauma, chronic invalidation, or other adverse life experiences that can significantly influence emotional development, interpersonal functioning, and mental health out-comes;

Whereas, despite its prevalence and significant impact on individuals, families, caregivers, and communities, BPD has historically received insufficient public awareness, research attention, and both research funding and treatment program funding;

Whereas individuals living with BPD continue to face disproportionately high levels of stigma, including within health care and mental health settings, compared to individuals with other mental health diagnoses, and such stigma can negatively impact the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of care they receive;

Whereas individuals living with BPD frequently experience delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and barriers to appropriate treatment due to stigma, bias, misconceptions within health care systems, and lack of available effective treatment in many regions;

Whereas public awareness and understanding of BPD remain incomplete, and timely diagnosis and access to evidence-based care are often hindered by gaps in health care access, insurance coverage and affordability, misinformation, the complexity of co-occurring conditions, limited provider education, and insufficient specialized programming;

Whereas the prognosis for BPD is far more hopeful than commonly believed, with research demonstrating that many individuals experience significant improvement overtime, with many no longer meeting diagnostic criteria following effective treatment, and can benefit substantially from evidence-based treatments;

Whereas individuals living with BPD deserve hope, and both clinical experience and research demonstrate that, with compassionate, evidence-based support from mental health professionals and broader community systems, individuals with BPD can experience recovery and lead lives with significantly reduced suffering and improved well-being;

Whereas with compassionate, evidence-based support and treatment, individuals living with BPD can develop effective coping skills, maintain meaningful relationships, pursue education and careers, contribute to their communities, and lead fulfilling lives;

Whereas individuals living with BPD and their family members are valuable members of society whose lived experiences, creativity, resilience, insight, and contributions enrich their families, communities, workplaces, and the broader public;

Whereas the inclusion of lived experience, family member, clinician, and researcher perspectives is essential to improving awareness, reducing stigma, advancing effective care, and shaping compassionate mental health policy; and

Whereas it is essential to increase awareness of BPD among individuals living with BPD and related problems, their families and caregivers, mental health professionals, policymakers, and the general public by promoting education, research, funding, early intervention, accessible treatment, and stigma reduction: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the designation of ‘‘Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month’’.