Square Pegs Presents... PD² Podcast By Chris Young cover art

Square Pegs Presents... PD²

Square Pegs Presents... PD²

By: Chris Young
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PD² with Square Pegs is a database of testimony for all the people with a label, or diagnosis of personality disorder who have experienced prejudice and discrimination at the hands of the services whose goal it is to support us.


This is a continuation of the work we started with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, the NCCMH, which is part of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom, to challenge the prejudice and discrimination experienced by people with a label, or diagnosis of personality disorder.


To be clear, the conversations in the podcast do not reflect the work or opinions of the Royal College or the NCCMH. This work originated from, but is no longer connected to either of those organisations.


PD stands for both ‘Personality Disorder’ and ‘Prejudice and Discrimination’, where ‘Squared’ also reflects our intention to square up to the prejudice and discrimination experienced by so many of us with a diagnosis, or label, of personality disorder.


We have interviewed 35 people so far, two thirds punters - we're reluctant to use the term 'service users' given the paucity of services in the UK for people with the label and a third professionals, all of whom have either witnessed or experienced prejudice or discrimination against this vulnerable group.


These first hand experiences have been described as anecdotal for too long - that's why we want to hear and share your testimony to help bring about real and lasting change.


I cannot stress this enough - we are nothing without your stories…your testimony… together, we are PD²



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Young
Hygiene & Healthy Living Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Rosie's Testimony
    Mar 2 2026

    Welcome back to the podcast. In this Episode Rosie talks about her experiences of having the label of 'Borderline Personality Disorder' and what the work she's doing to understand what the label means to her and how she believes this helps others who are trying to navigate mental health services in the UK.


    You can find her blog, 'Talking About BPD' here;


    You can buy her first book, 'Talking about BPD' here;


    Her latest book, 'The Talking About BPD Workbook' has just been published here


    As with all the other episodes, there'll be views you may not agree with - have a listen to our introductory episode, so you can get a feel for what we're all about.


    Every single person I've interviewed so far has either witnessed and/ or experienced prejudice against people with the label by the people charged with our care and society at large.


    This is a database of testimony for those people.


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

    01:26 Rosie's View on the BPD Label

    04:44 Prejudice and Discrimination in Mental Health Services

    11:30 Diagnosis Experience and Its Impact

    21:50 Effective Therapy: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

    32:13 The Role of Compassion in Treatment

    41:24 The Importance of Therapist-Patient Relationship

    51:56 Strengths and Resilience of People with BPD

    01:01:22 Support Systems and Self-Management

    01:11:10 Preventing Childhood Trauma and Building Resilience

    01:19:03 Authenticity and Self-Disclosure in Relationships

    01:22:50 Closing Remarks and Hope for the Future


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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Paul's Testimony
    Feb 23 2026

    In this episode, Chris engages in a deep conversation with Paul, a psychosocial nurse with extensive experience in therapeutic communities. Paul shares insights from his nine years of working with patients diagnosed with personality disorders, emphasising the importance of seeing individuals beyond their labels. He discusses his competitive nature in running and how it reflects his personality, while also highlighting the social aspects of community events like park runs. The conversation shifts to the complexities of working in mental health, particularly the discrimination surrounding personality disorders and the challenges of navigating institutional prejudices. Paul reflects on his experiences in high-security environments and the subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination faced by patients, advocating for a more human-centred approach in mental health care.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Paul and His Background

    04:45 The Impact of Labels in Mental Health

    11:19 Experiences of Prejudice and Discrimination

    19:12 Navigating the Therapeutic Community

    27:21 The Role of Outreach Services

    36:00 Challenging Institutional Norms

    48:14 The Importance of Reflection and Supervision

    59:04 Creating a Therapeutic Environment

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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Daniel's Testimony
    Feb 16 2026

    In this episode of PD², host Chris Young engages in a candid conversation with Daniel, who shares his life experiences and struggles with mental health, particularly focusing on his diagnosis of personality disorder. Daniel reflects on his upbringing, the impact of losing family members, and the challenges he faced in navigating mental health services. He discusses the frustrations of being passed from one service to another without receiving adequate help, emphasising the need for a more compassionate and understanding approach to mental health care. Daniel's journey through the criminal justice system and his experiences in prison highlight the systemic issues surrounding mental health treatment, particularly for those labelled with personality disorders.


    Throughout the conversation, Daniel articulates the importance of personal responsibility in seeking help and the value of community support. He shares insights on how his experiences have shaped his understanding of mental health and the necessity of addressing trauma at its roots. The discussion culminates in a call for a reformed mental health system that prioritises genuine care and understanding, rather than mere containment. Daniel's story serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of mental health and the need for empathy in addressing these issues.


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to Daniel's Story

    01:25 Understanding Personality Disorders

    03:53 Navigating Mental Health Services

    07:33 Experiences in Prison

    12:28 The Impact of Trauma

    19:07 The Role of Family and Relationships

    24:21 The Importance of Community Support

    32:13 Seeking Help and Personal Responsibility

    35:13 The Need for Mental Health Reform

    42:59 Confronting Societal Issues

    50:19 Reflections on Life and Growth

    59:34 The Power of Group Therapy

    01:05:51 Final Thoughts and Future Aspirations

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 32 mins
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