The Qualitative Report 2014 Volume 19, Article 30, 1-18 http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR19/rivera-segarra30.pdf Stigmatization Experiences among People Living with Borderline Personality Disorder in Puerto Rico Eliut Rivera-Segarra, Glendalys Rivera, Robmarie López-Soto, Gladys Crespo- Ramos, and Domingo Marqués-Reyes Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ponce, Puerto Rico The experiences of stigmatization among people living with specific Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI), such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has not been addressed by the scientific literature. In this study we wanted to explore how people living with BPD experience stigmatization. We examine the experiences of 8 people (7 women and 1 man) living and receiving treatment for BPD in Puerto Rico. We used an exploratory qualitative design with semi-structured interviews. To interpret our data, we conducted a thematic analysis. We discuss three categories that focus on one identified theme: the interpersonal dimension of the stigmatization process. These categories are (a) society’s views of people living with BPD, (b) family relationships, and (c) partner relationships. Our findings show that people with BPD experience a high attributed personal responsibility, discrimination, social exclusion, and lack of social support. In addition, our findings suggest that the stigmatization of BPD might be more complex than other mental illnesses as it shares characteristics of both SMI and less severe forms of mental illness. We also discuss the importance for practitioners to address stigmatization in therapy and the importance for research to address other aspects of the stigmatization process such as its structural dimension. Keywords: Stigmatization, Borderline Personality Disorder, Puerto Rico, Thematic Analysis Stigmatization has been recognized as the main barrier for treatment seeking, adherence, and recovery for people with serious mental illnesses, such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (Aviram, Brodsky, & Stanley, 2006; Beldie et al., 2012; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). Recent literature has identified the detrimental impact of stigmatization in the health status of people with serious mental illness perpetuating health inequities among these made vulnerable populations (Hatzenbuehler, Phelan, & Link, 2013; Rivera-Segarra & Ramos-Pibernus, 2013). This current situation worsens for ethnic minorities such as Latinos/as, specifically Puerto Ricans (López, Barrio, Kopelowicz, & Vega, 2012a; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). The prevalence of mental illnesses among the Latino communities in the United States is estimated at 30% (Alegría et al., 2007). Puerto Ricans are U.S. born citizens residing in the Caribbean Island. They represent a group with a prevalence of mental illness estimated at 36%, the highest among the Latino communities (Alegría et al., 2008; Alegría et al., 2007). Also, significant inequities have been found among the Latino communities (López et al., 2012a), especially among Puerto Ricans who have one of the lower rates of treatment seeking (Alegría et al., 2001; Keyes et al., 2012). Literature has shown that it is critical to understand how socio-cultural factors such as stigmatization shape opinions, beliefs, and attitudes about mental illnesses (Link, 2013; Olafsdottir & Pescosolido, 2009). However, the impact of the stigmatization among specific serious mental illnesses, such as BPD, has not yet been addressed by the scientific literature. Furthermore, research has neglected to address the specific manifestations of stigmatization especially in these made vulnerable populations, such as Puerto Ricans living with BPD (Piza Peluso & Blay, 2004).