Meeting-The-Challenge-Making-a-Difference-Practitioner-Guide

PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Here are some examples
of places people may
first present:
• At the GP with physical
symptoms. People with
personality disorder
often have significant
physical health problems.
People can also experience
physical symptoms, which,
on thorough investigation,
do not have any obvious
medical explanation.
• To drug and alcohol services.
• In the criminal justice
system with convictions
for repeated crimes such
as theft or assault.
• Being homeless and
sleeping rough.
• To mental health services.
• To A&E with repeated
self-harm.
• To eating disorder
services with anorexia or
bulimia, or obesity that
poses a threat to health.
• Through a social services
safeguarding alert for lack
of self-care or vulnerability
to exploitation.
• To friends when in crisis,
who then recognise
that there is some
underlying problem.
• People finding out
about it for themselves
on the internet.
In any of these situations, an interview with a worker who
has a basic awareness of personality disorder should raise the
question for the worker of whether the person has personality
difficulties that are contributing to their other problems, and
if so, how they can be helped.
Most people with personality disorders will never access specialist
help, but will rely on support from friends, relatives, their GP, and
other agencies such as religious organisations, voluntary
agencies, or social services. But people with severe problems
associated with personality disorder require timely and effective
help, possibly from a range of agencies.
The services available will vary from one area to another. It is a
good idea to find out what is available in your locality, and how
you can help people to access different kinds of help. Not everyone
wants to be seen by doctors or professionals; many people prefer
self-help or voluntary agencies and for others a combination is
helpful. It is important therefore to take into account what the
person has tried already, what appeals to them, and whether
there are forms of help that they want to avoid.
What might be available?
1) SELF-HELP, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND SOCIAL SUPPORT
Voluntary sector organisations and self help resources can be key
to enabling people to build resilience and reduce isolation. It is
often helpful to gather together information about a range of
resources for people to be able to choose what they feel might be
helpful to them at any one time. This might include:
• Websites, online forums, and phone lines can provide both
information and support. A list of useful websites is in Appendix 2.
• Details of voluntary sector organisations in your area which offer
support and information. Although there are only a few which focus
on personality disorder, many offer support and activities regardless
of diagnosis. These can be often be found at your local Community
Voluntary Sector Centre, local service user group, within mental
health NHS Trust websites or through a simple online search.
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