Mental Abuse

“Mental abuse” means a willful verbal or nonverbal action that threatens, humiliates, harasses, coerces, intimidates, isolates, unreasonably confines, or punishes a vulnerable adult. Mental abuse may include ridiculing, yelling, or swearing.

Signs of Mental Abuse include:

• being emotionally upset, agitated, or anxious;
• unusual behaviors (sucking, biting, rocking);
• being extremely withdrawn or fearful;
• nervousness around certain people;
• depression or nightmares; or
• the vulnerable adult reports being mentally abused.