In some parts of the world, there is now widespread awareness and extensive research about borderline personality disorder. There are numerous studies exploring the causes of and recovery from the disorder and several established evidence-based treatment methods.
However, in low to middle-income countries like Mexico, region-specific research is still lacking. This means that it’s difficult to know exactly how many young people experience the disorder or whether the causes and symptoms are the same as in other places. There may also be less awareness among clinicians about the disorder, leading to missed diagnoses.
That said, preliminary data suggests that BPD may be about as common in Mexico as in other places. This means that a significant number of young people live with the disorder and require effective treatment and support.
If you know a young person living with BPD, it’s important to find effective and specialist treatment. While this can take some time, it can make a huge difference in the life of a young person and their family. Living with BPD is really hard, but with the right support, young people can recover.
This blog offers some information about BPD, personality disorders, and BPD symptoms among adolescents in Mexico. It also outlines how The Wave Clinic supports young people with BPD from different parts of the world.
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health disorder that usually develops during adolescence or young adulthood. Around 1-3% of people live with BPD. BPD can make daily life difficult to manage, but it is treatable. Many people recover from the disorder and live independent, fulfilling lives.
Having BPD doesn’t mean there is something wrong with a person’s personality. It just means that the way they relate to themselves and other people makes some aspects of daily life difficult to handle.
BPD can look very different in one young person from another. However, there are some core traits that characterise BPD. These include:
- unstable interpersonal relationships
- fear of abandonment
- incoherent sense of self
- experiencing intense emotions
- chronic feelings of emptiness
- impulsive behaviours
Diagnosing BPD in Adolescents
In the past, many clinicians were reluctant to diagnose BPD among adolescents. Some experts thought that young people’s personalities changed a lot in their teenage years, so it didn’t make sense to give a diagnosis. Some people also thought that BPD traits could be considered part of the normal trajectory of adolescent behaviours.
However, research now shows that stable BPD traits can be identified in young people below the age of 18 – and the disorder is at least as common in adolescents as it is in adults. These BPD traits are well outside of the usual behaviours (such as impulsivity and strong emotional reactions) that are common among adolescents.
How Common Is BPD Among Teenagers and Young Adults in Mexico?
Until now, there has been very little research about BPD and other personality disorders in Mexico. This means it’s difficult to know exactly how common BPD is among either adults or adolescents.
In 2008, a study estimating the prevalence of personality disorders among adults found that about 1 in 17 people experienced a personality disorder. Around 1.6% of adults had a cluster B personality disorder. Cluster B personality disorders include BPD, as well as narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders.
The authors point out that these figures are similar to but slightly lower than, those found in Western countries like the USA, where there is much more data available about the disorder. While personality disorders, in general, are less common in Mexico (experienced by 6.1% compared to 9.1% of adults), this difference is mostly explained by a difference in cluster C disorders (personality disorders relating to fear and anxiety). Cluster B disorders like borderline personality disorders seem to be about as common in Mexico as in other Western countries.
If personality disorders like BPD are almost as common in Mexico as in countries like the US, they’re likely to be as common among adolescents as well. Recent research suggests that about 3% of adolescents in these countries live with BPD and that it may be reliably diagnosed in people as young as 11 years old.
Are Personality Disorders More Common in Some Societies than Others?
Cross-cultural studies on the prevalence of personality disorders have found that there isn’t much variation between different countries and cultures. This suggests that, to an extent, personality disorder traits develop because of individual differences in thinking, emotions, and behaviours that are present in any society.
However, researchers have found some differences between countries, especially in certain disorders. For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder is much more common in the US than in some other places, such as Mexico.
It’s possible that some aspects of society make personality disorders more or less likely. Our personalities are shaped by the world we grew up in and our experiences (as well as genetics). For example, societies that place high pressure and responsibilities on individuals—or ones without effective social support—may create stressful, isolated conditions that contribute to the development of personality disorders.
Borderline Personality Disorder and Co-Occurring Disorders
Data from Mexico shows that about half of adults with a personality disorder meet the criteria for another mental health disorder like anxiety or depression.
Many adolescents with BPD also experience co-occurring disorders. Research has found the strongest connections between BPD and depressive disorders, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. They are also likely to experience affective (mood) disorders and insomnia.
Sometimes, the symptoms of BPD are intertwined and overlap with symptoms of other disorders. This can make reliable diagnoses more difficult.
Personality Disorders, Age, and Gender in Mexico
Like other places in the world, younger people in Mexico are more likely than older people to develop cluster B personality disorders like borderline personality disorder. Across all personality disorders, females are slightly less likely to meet the diagnostic criteria than males.
BPD, Self-Harm, and Suicidality
Young people with BPD are at a high risk of self-harm and suicide. Adolescents may use self-harming behaviours in response to intense, intolerable emotions, often triggered by interpersonal difficulties. Impulsivity, a core trait of BPD, makes self-harming behaviours even more likely.
Data suggests that around 58% of adolescents with BPD also engage in non-suicidal self-injury. Around 59% experience active suicidal ideation. This means that treatment for borderline personality disorder often prioritises reducing the risk of self-harm and suicide by developing healthy coping mechanisms and forming crisis plans with family members and other trusted figures.
Research from Mexico published in 2024 looked into different risk factors for suicidal behaviour among adolescents. They found that 10% reported some suicidal behaviour. Suicidal behaviour was more common among young people who had at least one adverse childhood experience and those who had mental health problems.
Specialist Mental Health Support for BPD at The Wave Clinic
It’s often difficult for parents to find appropriate treatment for young people living with BPD. Recovery usually requires a broad treatment program that offers psychological, social, and educational or occupational support. Young people need specialist treatment that reflects their emotional, cognitive, and social developmental needs,
The Wave Clinic offers specialist residential programs for young people with borderline personality disorder from our treatment space in Malaysia. We combine exceptional clinical care with education, enriching experiences, and community projects, supporting young people to grow in self-confidence and resilience. We help teenagers and young adults build stable support structures and develop a coherent sense of identity and direction that guides them through the years ahead.
Continuing Education
During residential stays, young people can continue their curriculum education through personal learning programs. These programs use online platforms and connections with prestigious schools and universities to provide exceptional learning experiences. We also arrange one-to-one meetings with tutors based in Kuala Lumpur, many of whom work for UK and US schools that have opened in the region.
Alongside curriculum education, we provide vocational opportunities where young people can broaden their learning and obtain additional qualifications. Many young people discover new passions at our centre while developing invaluable skills.
A Safe and Supported Environment
Many young people with BPD are at risk of self-harming behaviours. At The Wave, we ensure that every young person is safe and supported at all times. For adolescents and young adults at the highest risk, we can provide 24-hour medical monitoring and care.
It’s normal for parents to feel worried when they’re away from their young person. We ensure parents are involved in the treatment process from the start and maintain good communication throughout a young person’s stay. We get to know families personally and invite them to our centre for family therapy and other modalities.
We also make sure parents are well-equipped with the knowledge and tools they require to support a young person once they’ve left our centre. We don’t leave you alone but remain available for advice, support, and additional care if necessary.
Contact Us Today
If you’d like to know more about our programs, get in touch today. We’re here to help.
