About Identity Matters
We are a dedicated community providing compassionate support for individuals navigating the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Our Story
Identity Matters was founded from a shared vision to create a space free from judgement and stigma. We recognised the urgent need for a supportive network where individuals with BPD could find understanding, share their experiences, and learn together. We are a small group of peers who believe that everyone deserves a place to feel heard and valued. Our program is designed by and for people with lived experience, ensuring that our support is relevant, practical, and truly helpful.
The Power of Peer Support
Peer support is the foundation of our approach, grounded in the proven benefits of shared experience and mutual empowerment. Learning and healing together in a group setting can be a transformative part of recovery.
Shared Understanding
Connecting with others who have similar lived experiences creates a unique environment of trust and can be a very validating experience. Sharing, and hearing others share, reduces stigma and loneliness.
Collaborative Learning
Group members often have insights, coping ideas, or ways of looking at things that you might not have thought of alone. Members are able to learn from one another’s experiences and gain new perspectives.
Practice in Real-Time
The group is a safe space to practice healthy communication, boundary setting, and to discuss managing intense feelings.
Give and Receive Support
Both receiving and offering support to others can be deeply healing. It creates a sense of connection and reminds you of your own resilience and strengths.
Meet the Team
Our support groups are led by facilitators with lived experience and a deep understanding of what it means to navigate mental health challenges. They’re here to hold space, guide conversations, and help create a supportive environment where everyone feels safe, seen, and respected.
We believe in the power of peer connection — our facilitators walk alongside, not ahead.
Anastasia – Funding & Foundations
I work in the background to help make Identity Matters possible, I support by securing funding, building relationships, and keeping things running smoothly. I’m really passionate about creating accessible, community-based support, and I love being part of something that’s grounded in lived experience and connection.
Jo – Peer group facilitator (supporter)
I'm here to walk alongside others with empathy and care. While I don’t have lived experience of BPD, my own journey through postnatal depression has given me a deep respect for how tough it can be to navigate emotional pain. I’m trained in Havening, a gentle touch-based approach (psychosensory) that supports emotional regulation and healing. I aim to create spaces where people feel safe, valued, and able to explore what matters to them, even in life’s most challenging moments.
Melanie – Lived-experience group facilitator
I bring my own lived experience of navigating both public and private mental health systems, which gives me an understanding of what it’s like to feel misunderstood, and overwhelmed, whilst trying to advocate for yourself. Through peer support, I hope to help others as they make sense of their experiences and explore the tools that helped me on my own journey.
Ruth – Lived-experience group facilitator
Hi there! I’m Ruth! With over 10 years of peer support under my belt, I strive to make sure everyone feels seen, heard, and respected, especially during tough times when they might feel misunderstood. When I'm not busy with work, you can probably catch me crocheting, curling up with a good book, or exploring thrift shops in search of hidden gems.