THE
NATIONAL CENTER
INFOSHEET
Personal Psychological Injury
by Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D.
Personal injury has been defined as, "physical injury inflicted to a person's body, as opposed to damage to property or reputation." (Oxford)
Historically, psychological injuries—the negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, have been overlooked. These refer to psychological and functional problems caused by another person's actions.
Today, there is an increasing awareness of the deleterious impact of emotional distress, as evidenced by the following:
• The United States spends more to treat mental disorders than any other disease or medical condition.
• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illness in the United States, and
• Depression is now the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide.
It is critical when addressing the needs of clients to determine whether an individual is grappling with significant or egregious emotional distress.
While monetary compensation may never be enough for psychological and functional damages, it is incumbent upon attorneys to see to it that proven acts of others pay for rehabilitation and ongoing mental health treatment for individuals who are psychologically broken.
CONTACT:
Dr. Mark Lerner
Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Chairman, The National Center for Emotional Wellness
© 2022 by Dr. Mark Lerner
NationalCenterforEmotionalWellness.org