As mentioned earlier, three forms of abuse were evident from the data, including psychological (emotional), physical and sexual victimisation. Psychological victimisation – defined as “the infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through verbal or non-verbal acts… [and] includes but is not limited to verbal assaults, insults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and harassment” [31] – was usually exhibited in the demeaning and rejection of persons with severe mental illness.
