New project launches to help people diagnosed with personality disorder

We’re launching a new project to develop a strategy for the care and management of people who are diagnosed with a personality disorder.

The project’s aim is to help us to better understand the many issues surrounding ‘personality disorder’ and the services we currently provide. We’re going to be developing a plan to ensure that our services consistently meet the needs of people with a personality disorder.

Stephen McGowan, clinical lead, said: “People with this diagnosis can have complex mental health difficulties and too often this diagnosis is misunderstood, leading to stigma, exclusion and a substantial suicide risk. Barriers to care and inadequate treatment are recognised as national problems leading to unhappiness, poor outcomes, adverse incidents and an over-reliance on A&E departments and acute services. Although there are many examples of good practice within the Trust and around the country, this isn’t consistent, so we’re going to use this project to learn from areas of good practice.”

In the coming weeks we’re going to be setting up a Trustwide network to support the development of an effective best-practice pathway for people diagnosed with personality disorder.