|
Thanks
to your membership dollars and generous
contributions, we have been able to raise
awareness of Borderline Personality Disorder
to on unprecedented level. TARA brought
BPD issues to the attention of key national
policy makers, including leaders in both
houses of Congress.
|
|
For
the very first time, members of
the Senate and of the House Appropriations
Committee will include BPD in their committees
report to NIMH, suggesting on increase
in research funding for BPD.
|
|
We
hove become on important liaison for the
Personality Disorder community with the
National Institute of Mental Health. Steve
Hyman, Director of NIMH has written TARA:
|
|
"Your
advocacy community had a lot to do with
helping NIMH see the needs of people with
BPD and their families. It is a good partnership."
|
|
We
are participating in the National Advisory
Mental Health Council (NAMHC) where, for
the first time, we are bringing BPD issues
to the attention of this important national
council.
|
|
More
First Time
TARA
Accomplishments
|
| • |
BPD
is now included inthe National Co-Morbidity
Survey Replication. BPD
sufferers will finally be counted. |
| • |
NIMH
produced their first public information
on BPD, which can be accessed on their web
site. In addition, at TARA's urging, they
have agreed to develop the following: |
| » |
Request
For Applications (RFA) for BPD research,
independent of any activities of any other
organization. |
| » |
Program
Announcement for BPD. |
| » |
Request
for Applications (RFA) for "A Gold
Standard Assessment Instrument," that will
be easy to use for diagnosing BPD in community
mental health and public health settings.
|
| » |
Exploration
of alternative methods for review
of BPD grants, especially cross-disciplinary
grants that require expertise in more than
one field. |
| • |
Exploration
of the consequences of time delays in the
scoring and funding of grants. |
| • |
At
a Washington DC meeting attended by John
Oldham, MD, and Valerie Porr, MA, of TARA,
we successfully advocated for inclusion
of BPD issues in future Surgeon General's
reports. |
| • |
On
Nov. 21 1999 we achieved an important first-time
media event with National Public Radio.
The Infinite Mind Explores Borderline
Personality Disorder was featured on
a national radio program. Hosted by Fred
Goodwin, MD, former director of NIMH, it
featured Marsha Linehan, PhD, Valerie Porr,
MA, TARA APD president, and Sally Bedell
Smith, author of Diana, Portrait of a
Troubled Princess. The program reached
over eight million people. Tapes and transcripts
are available through TARA. |
| • |
TARA
is the only national mental health organization
providing BPD information for families and
providers. Each caller receives a customized
info packet including our educational brochure,
Understanding BPD. |
| • |
TARA
sponsors workshops, educational seminars
and symposia at various local, national,
and international conferences such as the
American Public Health Association, National
Social Workers Association on Addiction,
and the International Society for the Study
of Personality Disorders. We will be holding
seminars at the upcoming NAMIconvention
and ISSPD meeting in New York City. |
| • |
TARA
attends cross-disciplinary conferences bringing
current treatment, research findings and
anti-stigma messages to areas where prevalence
of BPD is not generally recognized, such
as substance abuse, domestic violence, road
rage, stalking, eating disorders and other
forms of addiction. |
|
Helping
Families, Consumers,
and
Professionals
| • |
We
operate the only "National Hotline" for
BPD: 888-4-TARA APD. |
| • |
TARA
operates the only National Resource and
Referral Center for BPD. A Referral Directory
is under development. |
| • |
We
have developed a Family BPD Educational
Curriculum This not only teaches families
about BPD, but also provides hem with coping
skills and suggestions as to how to best
help their loved ones. |
| • |
In
meetings with NIMH, Congress, the Substance
Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) and the Surgeon General, we have
focused national attention on the lack of
appropriate diagnosis and treatment options
for teens with BPD. |
| • |
TARA
has begun national teen advocacy by coalescing
family members and articulating the treatment
needs of BPD teens with mental health administrators,
both locally and nationally. |
| • |
We
participated in the first Surgeon General's
Children and Adolescent Conference. This
is the first time BPD adolescent needs were
represented at a national conference. |
|
Growth
and Expansion of TARA APD
|
|
Based
in New York City, TARA has established
chapters in four more states as well as
Canada:
|
| • |
Northern
California: Operates family
support and advocacy groups. Advocates for
appropriate BPD treatment throughout the
California mental health system. |
| • |
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania: Operates family support
groups and a committed advocacy group This
longest running group also helps produce
BPD information and advocacy literature
for dissemination across the country. TARA
Pittsburgh vigorously advocates with key
Congressional leaders |
| • |
Washinaton,
DC: Operates a family support and
advocacy group which actively advocates
with key legislators, NIMH, SAMHSA, as well
as administrators of local mental health
systems. Participates in national mental
health advocacy. |
| • |
Northwest
Canada: Family support groups
are growing. |
|
TARA
as a Catalyst for
Research and Change
|
|
TARA
has initiated development of a Domestic
Violence Research Project in New York
City. This would bring together pharmacologists,
domestic violence (DV) experts, DBT experts,
a community mental health organization
and the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office.
Our aim is to treat DV perpetrators who
meet the criteria for BPD (1 of 3 perpetrators)
with methods of treatment shown to be
effective with BPD.
|
|
We
are initiating a Teen Research Project
for treating BPD teens with appropriate
pharmacological interventions, such as
Depakote and with Dialectical Behavior
Therapy. Our Hotline data and our communication
with the research community helps bring
family observations and experiences to
the attention of researchers.
|
|
TARA
is committed tp decreasing the stigma
of Borderline Personality Disorder by
continuous attempts to reframe BPD in
the light of current research. We are
participating in the American Psychiatric
Associations efforts to change the name
of BPD and reclassify Axis I and Axis
II. This will help to diminish the trivialization
of the illness and would permit BPD coverage
by insurance plans and inclusion in future
parity legislation.
|
|
Much
has been accomplished.
More
has yet to be done.
|
|
We
are proud of what we have achieved but
by no means satisfied. BPD is an illness
that has been overlooked for so long that
whatever progress has been made in recognizing,
treating, and funding resembles how the
condition improves… "in baby steps." Because
so many people are affected by BPD (2%-3%
of the general population), as well as
their families, we need to take giant
steps. With your continued support, tax-free
contributions, new and renewed membership
dollars, we believe we can take a giant
step forward.
|
|
