HISTORY OF ACAI

The origins of ACAI go back to March 1999, when Mrs. Marina Foret (president of the foundation) published the book entitled My Son, Borderline Personality, under the counselling of Mrs. Montserrat Baró (director of the foundation ACIDH), Mr. Antoni Comas (minister of social welfare of Catalonia) and Sister Genoveva Masip (a nun in the order of Saint Vincent of Paul).

They supported Mrs. Foret in her idea to help those affected by BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) so that in November 1999 the Catalan Association for Help and Research into Borderline Personality Disorder (Associació Catalana d'Ajuda i Investigació del Trastorn Límit de Personalitat) was founded. It aims to inform, help and support those affected by BPD and their families as well as to publish and research into the controversial issue of BPD.

Since 2002 ACAI-TLP belongs to Feaces-Fecafamm (Federació Catalana de Familiars de Malalts Mentals - Catalan Federation of the families of victims of mental illnesses)

ACAI'S PIONEERING WORK

We are the first Spanish association devoted to help victims of BPD and their families.

We have translated into Spanish (and published) some of the most recent specific texts on BPD, facilitating further translation projects as well as the commercialisation of self-help books and books for professionals.

We have created and edited the first monographic magazine on BPD entitled "Sin Límite" (Without Limits).

We have fostered the creation of other associations.

We have set up the first psycho-educational seminar (addressed to those who live with a BPD). We have organised the first therapy group specialised in BPD.

We have promoted through the Health Department of the Autonomous Government of Catatonia (Departament de Sanitat de la Generalitat de Catalunya), the creation of a work group that aims to analyse the resources that are necessary to assist BPD victims.

ACAI'S OBJECTIVES

To assist and support the families as well as all those people have a direct relation with a BPD victim.

From a multidisciplinary perspective and in collaboration with other assistance services, to counsel and deal with victims of BPD.

To provide psychological counselling to BPD victims as well as to their families and other professionals involved.

To provide legal counselling to BPD victims as well as to their families with regard to different kinds of situations (i.e. criminal, working conditions, inheritance issues, etc.) related to this mental disorder.

To ensure the quality and professionalism in the assistance to BPD.

To manage that the competent public institutions devote the necessary resources to prevent, detect and treat BPD.

To build an open space in which the relatives and friends of BPD victims can participate and share their experiences.

To foster the research into BPD.

SERVICES AND BENEFITS

Free information by phone or mail of BPD as well as of our foundation.

Our psychological team offers PPD patients and/or their families the following services: