Collaborative Artwork

'Coping' Series
All four of the artists who created this series were, at the time, receiving treatment called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which they found really helpful. It can be really intense at times, so often they coped with that through humour (which was encouraged by their therapist!). These photos are all about different suggested techniques. The therapy was developed my Marsha Linehan. Most of the techniques are really useful and helped them to cope with life with BPD, however Marsha is a rather quirky American, so some of the suggestions are rather ‘out there’ and a good giggle was had about those. The image of the girl in the bath is more related to the Crisis Team than DBT as explained beneath the image.

'What?' Series
All of these quotes were said by members of the general public to individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. Such comments can be frustrating, but at the end of the day, people are not going to understand unless we are open about it and explain it. We can’t expect people to mind read. We also want to iterate that there are many members of the public who are clued up, so this is NOT a generalisation of everyone. Through this series, however, we would like to illustrate the importance of helping the general public to become aware of the condition as some just don’t understand, and it can be quite hurtful at times.

'Erm...' Series
All of these quotes were said by health professionals to individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. We understand that a lot of these comments will be said when staff are under stress – there have been so many cuts and many mental health workers are under immense pressure. We also want to iterate that most health professionals are far more sensitive than this, even if they don't understand the condition, and these amazing people have helped us greatly, so this is NOT a generalisation of all workers. Through this series, however, we would like to illustrate the importance of educating professionals about the condition as some just don’t understand and it can be quite hurtful at times.

All images edited by Beccy Gamble.