BPD & Men: The Elephant in the Room: Aaron Fornarino

8th Annual National BPD Conference Brisbane 2018: Research Resources Respect: Connection Building

Aaron Fornarino was diagnosed with BPD in 1995 during adolescence. After numerous hospital admissions and a stint in government state care, Aaron gained employment in 2006 in the private sector before moving on to public sector work in 2011 and studying law at Flinders University, South Australia.

After firsthand witnessing and experiencing stigma, isolation and denial BPD is a mental illness, Aaron became interested in BPD gender issues, stigma and discrimination.

BPD has long thought to be a predominantly female-orientated disorder with an often 75:25 female
to male ratio quoted by consumers and clinicians. As Aaron has experienced BPD for the last
22 years through all the highs and lows of emotional dysregulation, he will discuss what helps those with BPD and what doesn’t.

Aaron will also share his personal journey through stigma, discrimination and common myths about BPD in men.