|
Pardon
us if we blow our own horn,
but just look at what TARA has accomplished. |
| 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
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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 for
more states as well as Canada:
|
| • |
Chicago,
Illinois: Operates family support groups and Educational
seminars in the Chicago area. |
| • |
San
Francisco 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.
|
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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.
|
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Much
has been accomplished. More has yet to be done.
|
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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.
|
|
Helpline:
1-888-4-TARA APD
Valerie
Porr, MA, President
TARA Association for Personality Disorder
23 Greene Street
New York, New York 10013
TARAAPD@aol.com
(212) 966-6514
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