ABSTRACT:

Self-harm - particularly non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) - has traditionally been conceptualised as a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and remains central to early intervention and indicated prevention approaches for personality disorders (PD) in youth. However, emerging evidence suggests that despite meaningful clinical and behavioral overlap, self-harm and personality pathology are related but distinct constructs. This has important implications: an overly narrow focus on self-harm in early identification and treatment risks contributing to over-diagnosis of PD and oversimplifying the broader, multidimensional nature of personality pathology, including its diverse developmental trajectories and outcomes.

In this talk, Professor Kaess will synthesise current empirical evidence on the role of self-harm within early intervention frameworks for PD. Specifically, he will examine its utility as:

• (i) a diagnostic indicator,
• (ii) a predictor of clinical risk trajectories,
• (iii) a therapeutic target, and
• (iv) an outcome measure in clinical trials and practice.

Building on this evidence, the presentation will outline clinical implications and emphasise the need for a clear understanding of the role of self-harm within a broader developmental and psychopathological context, rather than treating it as a defining feature of PD. He will also highlight key gaps in current knowledge and outline future research directions to address them.

This webinar is the headline event for BPD Awareness Week 2026 in Australia.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

This session is ideal for practitioners across the suicide-prevention and youth mental health sectors who want a clearer, evidence-informed understanding of the relationship between self-harm and emerging personality disorder. Psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, youth workers, case managers, social workers, and clinicians (especicially those working in child and adolescent services will find the content directly applicable to assessment, formulation, and early intervention practice.

PRESENTER: 

Michael Kaess is a Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Bern, and serves as Director of the University Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Bern, Switzerland. He previously trained and advanced his career at the University of Heidelberg in Germany and the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Professor Kaess is a leading researcher in the field of adolescent risk-taking and self-harming behaviours, with a strong focus on the early detection and intervention of underlying mental health conditions, including affective disorders and borderline personality disorder. His research spans epidemiological, clinical, technological and neurobiological approaches, often integrating these domains to support the translation of scientific findings into clinical practice.

TIME:

Monday 5 October 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (UTC+10) OR AEDT