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

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1327 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1327

  Supporting the designation of May 2026 as ``Borderline Personality 
                      Disorder Awareness Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 29, 2026

 Ms. Escobar (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Supporting the designation of May 2026 as ``Borderline Personality 
                      Disorder Awareness Month''.

Whereas borderline personality disorder (in this preamble referred 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 attempt 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 outcomes;
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 over time, 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''.
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