Long-term disability (LTD) insurers are usually hesitant to approve claims of psychological illnesses such as depression or bipolar disorder. Even if your treatment provider (family doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist) supports your claim, your LTD provider can deny your application.

In these challenging situations, it is crucial to hire a skilled and experienced Toronto disability lawyer from Personal Injury Lawyers who can guide you through the process of appeals and, if necessary, file a carefully structured claim against your insurer.

Trauma-Induced Mental Disorders

Lots of individuals do not realize that accidents (like a car or work-related accident etc.) can cause a lot more than just physical injury. People can suffer harmful mental and emotional distress which can sometimes be more devastating and life-altering than even the most serious physical injury.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and Depression

Bipolar disorder is a condition that causes a person to experience periods of depression and altered mood. According to CAMH Bipolar disorder typically consists of three states:

• a high state, called mania
• a low state, called depression
• a well state, during which many people feel normal and function well

Most people experience some emotional ups and downs, but the mood swings for those suffering with bipolar disorder are more severe.

According to the Government of Canada public health services, about 1 in 50 adults aged 25-44 years or 45-64 years reported symptoms consistent with bipolar disorder at some point in their lifetime. Nearly 9 out of 10 Canadians who reported symptoms that met the 12-month criteria for bipolar disorder (86. 9%) reported that the condition interfered with their lives.

Individuals with bipolar disorder and depression frequently suffer from incidents of extreme sadness, feeling miserable, anxiety and confusion. With increasing intensity, the individual may struggle to cope with overwhelming feelings and distress which can sometimes take form of acts of self-injury.

Bipolar Disorder symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

• Inflated self-esteem, uncritical self-confidence and poor judgement.
• Incoherent speech that others find difficult to interrupt.
• Distractibility.
• Disregard for consequences or risks.
• Restlessnes spacing and decreased need for sleep.
• Irritability or angry outbursts.

Depression symptoms may include but are not limited to:

• Feeling sorrowful, anxious, empty, nervous, hopeless, worthless or guilty.
• Having no or little interest in social or other activities like hobbies, sexual activity and leisure activity.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Feeling restless or lethargic.
• Not being able to concentrate or make decisions.
• Memory issues.
• Poor appetite and /or involuntary weight loss or gain.
• Pain or physical symptoms not related to an illness or injury.
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

The appropriate diagnosis of bipolar disorder, early intervention and constant support and therapy are vital to the well being and recovery of individuals suffering from this illness.Causes of Depression are not exactly known, but are thought to include chronic pain, stress, substance abuse, and genetic factors. Treatment usually consists of talk therapy and/or medication.Treatment for bipolar disorder involves a combination of counseling and pharmacotherapy (mood-stabilizing or antidepressant drugs).

How Personal Injury Lawyers Can Advocate for Your Mental Illness

Most insurers, employers and co-workers do not have sufficient understanding regarding the challenge of living with mental illness and its effects. This makes dealing with it a lot more difficult and challenging and leaves people feeling isolated.

The experienced Toronto injury lawyers at Personal Injury Lawyers are long-term advocates for people with mental disorders that have dramatically altered their lifestyle. If you or somebody you love has been suffering an injury accident of any sort or has their disability claim denied, then you should not wait to contact our firm as soon as possible. We pride ourselves on delivering the best legal representation to those who need it most.

CONTACT Personal Injury Lawyers

Our lawyers have a unique advantage on other law-firms in our area of practice. We have previously defended insurers that provide disability insurance. We intimately know the criteria that is applied in the claim denial process and we effectively advocate for our client’s best interests, fighting the very same insurance providers that have denied your disability claim.

If you need help, schedule a free consultation by calling us at (647) 848-3503 or reach us by filling out the Consultation Form. We look forward to helping you gain the compensation you deserve. We serve the whole Greater Toronto Area including London, Hamilton, Caledon and Ajax.