Beyond Bruises: Legal Considerations Of Mental Health Effects On Domestic Violence Victims
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
Soumita Chakraborty, Kingston Law College, Kolkata
ABSTRACT
In every corner of the world, within the supposed safety of homes, countless individuals endure a form of suffering that remains largely invisible and painfully unspoken. Behind closed doors, many people live in the shadows of fear, psychological control, and emotional manipulation which is a silent torment that neither cause scars to the skin nor raises alarm, yet erodes the human spirit with relentless precision day by day. Though society has grown increasingly mor aware about physical violence, yet the hidden nature of psychological abuse somehow continues to evade the public conscience. This form of harm are coercive, persistent, and deeply personal that leaves emotional wounds that are no less devastating than physical injuries, though far more difficult to recognize, articulate, or measure.
This paper stems from a profound awareness of the silence surrounding emotional suffering. It goes beyond being a mere academic study and serves as a call to acknowledge those whose pain often goes unnoticed because it does not fit into conventional or visible definitions of harm. The goal is to create a space for survivors to share their experiences of living with emotional abuse, where daily suffering becomes normalized and fear is hidden beneath the surface of routine life. Rather than focusing solely on
legal jargon or clinical descriptions, this work aims to bring a human perspective to the law and challenge its shortcomings—questioning whether our justice and protection systems are truly capable of addressing the complex nature of psychological and emotional trauma. Rooted in empathy, shaped by legal principles, and inspired by strength, this research encourages a more compassionate and thorough understanding of harm. Through this effort, it seeks to reveal what is often overlooked and turn silence into powerful testimony.
Keywords: legal, domestic violence, psychological abuse, emotional manipulation, India
