@TW: Boston area story of Infanticide/suicide

[devonpow]

Feb 14, 2023 10:31:53 GMT -5 carmenere said:

Feb 14, 2023 9:17:02 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

PPP doesn't manifest as someone just lusting after killing any infant they see. This was specific to her situation and she felt deep down that HER children would be better off not existing due to her mental state. (Now of course that means she wouldn't work in L&D, but there are a lot of situations that would preclude that.)

QFT. The evidence presented in court will show whether this was the result of PPP, but based on what we know right now that still appears to be the cause. And we know that PPP is treatable and the psychosis isn't lifelong, so it's not always necessary for someone to remain institutionalized indefinitely. For example Andrea Yates is legally eligible for release (although she declines it, in part because she has a lifelong diagnosis of schizophrenia).

@wise_rita I get that we're all shocked and heartbroken, but the stigma is a huge reason many parents struggling with postpartum mental health (and many people struggling with mental health illness generally) don't get the help they need.

this also leads to the discussion of what is prison for? Protecting society? She’s not a danger to anyone but herself now. Rehabilitation? Prison won’t help with that - serious mental health care is necessary (I think we can all agree prison is NOT the place for this). Punishment? Where is the line with punishing someone who did something based on a psychotic break or due to mental illness (assuming this is what it was). If we want prison as purely punitive for her…what is appropriate punishment for a crime that can potentially be something literally beyond her control and a potential failure of social services? Just saying someone should be removed from society doesn’t address any of these questions - it’s a purely punitive knee jerk reaction to a terrible tragedy. An argument over what type of mandated mental health work is needed is an excellent debate though (forced hospitalization? Until what point? What are parameters for release? Etc)

[AJL]

Feb 14, 2023 9:11:23 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Feb 8, 2023 14:32:36 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I read the reason Defense is going for an involuntary intoxication is because it would mean no jail or mental hospital time. Insanity would mean life in a mental hospital (is that the correct term? it seems wrong in my head for some reason.  psychiatric hospital?).

OMFG there is a universe where she would be LET OUT INTO SOCIETY after this?!  Surely she of all people wouldn't want that.  Nor her husband, nor anybody.  There is no question she did this so...how can that be?

This woman was a L&D nurse.  I know she'll never go back to that, but I can't help but think what if she went after someone else's baby if she had been back to work.

Tell me you have limited understanding of mental health disorders without telling me you have limited understanding of mental health disorders. 


ETA: I have to address this comment, wise_rita . I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that your emotions on the situation are clouding your judgment in making these comments.

People who are mentally ill, INCLUDING those who are experiencing psychosis or schizophrenia or other mood disorders that popular culture has associated with violence, are in fact NOT violent. Most violent offenders of any kind are not mentally ill. We, society, find it incredibly difficult to accept that someone could commit a heinous crime and be of sound mind, because that means we could also commit unbelievable acts of violence. 

But that is the reality. And to perpetuate the idea that mental illness = violence is to further stigmatize people who are experiencing mental illness. It is tremendously difficult to ask for help when you're experiencing mental illness, and when you do ask for help, often times you are denied that there is even a problem, especially if you are a woman. That is a factor in this case. You are not given appropriate care and your disease is no longer within your control to manage. 

With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, Lindsay Clancy can live a mentally healthy life. But her life is irrevocably changed and she will have to live with her actions for the rest of her life.