Summary

In this episode of the PD Squared podcast, host Chris engages in a conversation with Tommy Tierney, who shares her lived experiences with personality disorder diagnoses and her work in the homelessness sector. Tommy discusses the intersection of mental health, homelessness, and gender-based violence, highlighting the overrepresentation of individuals with personality disorder labels among those experiencing severe disadvantage. She emphasises the systemic issues within mental health services, particularly how diagnoses can serve as barriers to accessing necessary support rather than facilitating treatment. The conversation delves into the prejudice surrounding personality disorders, the challenges faced by individuals seeking help, and the need for a more compassionate and understanding approach from mental health professionals.

Tommy articulates the complexities of navigating mental health services, sharing her own experiences of prejudice and the often-punitive nature of treatment for those labelled with personality disorders. She advocates for a shift in perspective, urging professionals to recognise the underlying trauma and distress rather than attributing blame to individuals. The discussion culminates in a call for systemic change, emphasising the importance of listening to and believing individuals in distress, and creating supportive environments that foster healing and understanding.

Keywords

personality disorder, mental health, homelessness, trauma, stigma, mental health services, gender-based violence, systemic issues, lived experience, support

Takeaways

"There's a real disconnect between what the person might want and what their agenda is in that."

"The problems are being located very much in the individuals and not in the services or lack thereof."

"If we do have to have a diagnosis of this kind, it needs to be a result of a proper, thorough rigorous assessment process."

"The idea that we are choosing to be this way is just a moral failing."

"The impact of trauma is less based on the seriousness of whatever incident it was as the support you get afterwards."

"It's not just about the overt trauma; it's about emotional negligence too."

"We need to create an environment where it's safe to talk about anything that happens to you."

"The system creates a perverse incentive to be high risk to get the help you need."

"It's about being heard and cared for, not just treated as a diagnosis."

"There's a need for training that breaks the cycle of prejudice and misunderstanding."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tommy Tierney and Her Work

01:25 The Intersection of Trauma and Homelessness

05:08 Prejudice in Mental Health Services

10:46 The Role of Diagnosis in Accessing Care

20:36 Experiences with Crisis Services

30:09 The Impact of Prejudice on Treatment

39:04 Understanding the Roots of Prejudice

51:22 What Good Practice Looks Like

01:01:34 Creating Supportive Environments for Healing

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