In domestic abuse cases, people often look for physical injuries such as bruises and scars. However, the impact of domestic abuse on one’s mental health weighs equally the same. In fact, it can even be life-threatening. Many victims suffer from depression, trauma, anxiety, or even eating disorders.

Anyone should have stable mental health to keep it together. In severe forms, most mental health illnesses negatively affect one’s quality of life. Domestic abuse lawyers have seen countless victims that are traumatized and could barely speak or go out because of the suffering they experienced in the past. Thus, it is only right for the law to take them into consideration.

Mental health has a significant impact on the development of family law cases. The family law cases involve divorce, domestic abuse, and separation which can injure a person emotionally. If you are unsure about the laws that can protect you, domestic abuse lawyers can guide you on how legal sectors handle mental illness.

Mental Health Attorney

Family courts are specific for resolving certain familial issues and it is never easy. Especially since the people involved in trials are related by blood. To speed up the process, you can contact a mental health attorney or a domestic abuse attorney to solve legal matters.

A domestic abuse attorney will help you with both your mental health problems and physical injuries you sustained within the viable timeframe. However, there are also legal experts that specialize in mental health laws.

An attorney specializing in mental health law can help people with mental health issues. They can represent you in court. They deal with a wide range of mental illness issues. They can resolve the case with a fair punishment for the faulty party.

The Impact of Mental Health on Family Law Cases

Mental health has a significant impact on family law cases. The reason is that the family law guides the couples on various issues in their marriage. This area of the law helps separated parents with the custody of their children. Family law cases settle the child support dispute among unmarried people.

Family law cases include cases of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse cases have a terrible impact on the victim's mental health. The people going through a rough phase in their marriage or ending it often go through stress.

You might have to go through depression after divorce. It does not matter if you had a mental illness before the case. A stressed person might overreact to some situations in court. It will negatively impact the case. in family law cases, people usually misconduct to win the case.

For example, in the case of domestic abuse and divorce, the victim goes through a lot of mental suffering. If there is a child custody case in court, the at-fault party will try its best to prove the victim wrong. 

If the victim does not seek medical help, they will start self-medication. Some people begin using alcohol and drugs instead of medications. As a result, there is a sudden shift in their behavior. The other party can use it as a justification for winning the case. They might succeed in reducing the other parent's time with their children.

Common Mental Health Problems in Family Law Cases

Mental health issues have become very common these days. One out of five people suffers from stress, anxiety, and depression. Mental illness is a grave concern in the modern world. It affects every aspect of your life.

The court needs to handle mental illness in family law cases. Following are some common problems related to mental health seen in family law cases.

1. Divorce Aggravates Mental Health Problems

Image Source

Divorce hurts the lives of both parties. Going through a divorce is very painful for everyone. It does not depend upon the conditions that lead to divorce.

Divorce can worsen the medical needs of a stressed patient. They might respond to the problems. Some of them end up hurting their case.

In various courts, problems in one parent's mental health often lead them to let go of their children. Mental health disorders result in further worsening in their depressed mental state. Their temporary recklessness turns into a permanent furious behavior.

2. Weaponizing Mental Health in a Lawsuit

It would be best if you told your family lawyer about your mental health. Mental health issues have risen on a global level. Some people have also started using them as a weapon in court. An angry ex can make a false allegation about your mental instability in court.

In domestic abuse cases, people often use mental health issues as a tool to justify their case. An abusive person claims that he was in an unstable state of mind when he attacked his partner. 

In other instances, one of the parents makes baseless claims about their spouse. They try to prove to the court that the other person is unfit for parenting. Such behavior can distract the court from some crucial issues of the case.

3. Discriminate Crime From Illness

It is common these days that the law fails to distinguish between real and fake cases of depression. The court often treats an abusive person the same way they treat a mentally ill person.

There is no burden of finding out proof of someone's unusual behavior. If one of the spouses proves the other person mentally ill, the court issues strict orders.

The order forces the individual to leave their house immediately. Moving out of the house can worsen their mental state. This can lead to homelessness. They will have to go through various other forms of substance abuse.

They might have to face unfavorable outcomes. So, the court should discriminate against crime from illness. If your lawyer knows about your mental health, he will fight your case in court with all facts and figures. This will help him prove his points in court and improve your chances of winning the case.

A mental health attorney can be very beneficial in this case. he can distinguish the person with or without illness. He will get the court directed towards a fair decision about the topic.

4. Role of Family Law Attorney in Helping the Clients

There are many reasons for discussing your mental health with your lawyer. Some attorneys do not handle clients with mental disorders. In the law industry, mental health is not given significant importance. 

Some attorneys mishandle mental health cases in court. Clients going through domestic abuse or divorce need professional help. The attorney should pay attention to their client's condition. They should help them in every possible way.

Conclusion

The conclusion is that you should discuss your mental health with your family lawyer. Your lawyer's inability to handle the mental disorder will worsen your case. A good lawyer will understand your mental health conditions. 

He is always ready to help you seek medical aid. He will also tell you about all the helping options available for you.