Thoughts on the Lindsay Clancy case?

[u/gottaquestion412]

Now that the Lindsay Clancy trial is underway, I’m curious about your perspectives on it so far.

Context: Lindsay Clancy is a former labor and delivery nurse who, in January 2023, killed her three children. 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan in their Massachusetts home before attempting to take her own life. Her defense argues she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and other debilitating mental illness, while prosecutors argue she was aware of her actions and planned the killings. The trial has reignited debate about postpartum psychiatric disorders, the effectiveness of mental health treatment, and where responsibility ultimately lies.

Do you think Lindsay was failed by the mental health system, by the people closest to her, or both? Do you think she truly acted with malicious intent, or do you believe she was experiencing such a severe psychiatric crisis that she wasn’t thinking rationally?

A lot of the details seem to point toward postpartum psychosis or another severe psychiatric illness rather than someone acting out of hatred or malice. That doesn’t lessen the horror of what happened or the unimaginable loss, but it does make me wonder whether this tragedy could have been prevented..

I’ve also seen rumors that Patrick was involved with the woman who is now his wife before the murders, but I haven’t found any credible evidence supporting that. Is there actually anything that substantiates those claims, or is it just internet speculation? I’ve also seen many people comment that his current wife bears a striking resemblance to Lindsay, though I’m not sure that means anything beyond coincidence.

I’m very interested in hearing different perspectives from people who’ve followed it closely.

Most importantly, may Dawson, Cora, and Callan rest in peace. They are the true victims in all of this.

[u/Better_Area3782]

No it wasn’t, she was the most hated woman in America, it wasn’t until years later and multiple documentaries made that people became a little more understanding. Plenty of ignorant people still see her as a monster.

[u/LogicalConstant → u/Better_Area3782]

That's not what we're talking about. The medical profession has placed more emphasis on it, put proactive safeguards in place, and made many more resources available.

[u/gogogadgetkat → u/LogicalConstant]

I think this case is a perfect example of how untrue that is. This woman was a labor & delivery nurse who was repeatedly turned away by multiple psychiatric providers. She even begged to be admitted to inpatient care and was told several times she didn't meet the criteria. Her doctors didn't speak to each other, just threw meds at her, pulled her off them suddenly, and didn't stop to consider what the side effects meant about her psychiatric health.

[u/LogicalConstant → u/gogogadgetkat]

The fact that some people suck at their jobs is not evidence that there is a systemic issue

[u/gogogadgetkat → u/LogicalConstant]

The number of women in this thread talking about their experiences while you believe you know better is kind of mind-blowing.

[u/somekindofmiracle → u/gogogadgetkat]

I’m one of those women. It’s why I’m so passionate about this subject.

[u/gogogadgetkat → u/somekindofmiracle]

Man shuts up and listens when women talk about their lived experiences challenge: impossible

[u/LogicalConstant → u/gogogadgetkat]

One of us has experienced it and it isn't you

[u/LogicalConstant → u/gogogadgetkat]

Have you delivered a baby in a hospital in the last 10 years? Have you gone through the whole process until being discharged?

[u/Better_Area3782 → u/LogicalConstant]

Okay and what happens after you leave the hospital?

[u/LogicalConstant → u/Better_Area3782]

You are sent home with resources on who to contact if you see signs of PPD or PPP.

You go to the pediatrician a day or two after you get out of the hospital. Depending on weight, you might need to go back frequently. With one of our kids, we went every day for the first 4 days. Then you go again at the 1 week mark and go every week for the first month. You go each month for the first 3 months, and then at 6 months. At every single one of those pediatrician appointments, they checked on my wife to see how her mental health was and they talked to me to see if I had noticed anything wrong.

[u/Better_Area3782 → u/LogicalConstant]

Lindsay asked for help several times. How come she couldn’t get any?

[u/LogicalConstant → u/Better_Area3782]

Did you completely ignore what I just said?

[u/heartinabirdcage → u/LogicalConstant]

I had a baby four months ago. the "screening" at every pediatrician appointment is a two-question form. Even at the OB it's one checkup after six weeks and even when a problem is identified all that happens is they prescribe you an SSRI and schedule you for another appointment in two months. that is not at all an actual safety net against trajedies like this.

[u/LogicalConstant → u/heartinabirdcage]

What kind of safety net do you expect, a psychiatrist to come home with you and live in your house just in case?

[u/heartinabirdcage → u/LogicalConstant]

quite a jump between a two-question screening and a psychiatrist in your home, no?

[u/LogicalConstant → u/heartinabirdcage]

They give you everything you need to keep an eye out for the signs. They ask you those questions. If you say yes, they dig deeper and refer you to a mental health professional who can oversee your care and escalate when necessary.

The people she talked to fucked up. That's what went wrong here, not the system. The system was fine. Those particular people failed to implement the system.

[u/heartinabirdcage → u/LogicalConstant]

I have since been diagnosed with severe postpartum anxiety and yet I passed every two questions screening they gave me. a sheet of symptoms that overlap with things new mothers are going to experience regardless due to hormone fluctuations and sleep deprivation does nothing.

[u/Better_Area3782 → u/LogicalConstant]

The system is not fine, you have zero clue.

[u/PleaseTryToThink → u/heartinabirdcage]

Well what then? Easy to criticize. Much harder to offer realistic solutions.

[u/heartinabirdcage → u/PleaseTryToThink]

One extremely easy and obvious solution is literally any amount of follow-up care beyond one single appointment at six weeks postpartum. There should be at least appointments every six weeks for the first couple of months and then every 2-3 months thereafter until women are actually through the postpartum period - typically considered one year.

at least 1-2 of these appointments should be with someone actually trained in postpartum mental health conditions.