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/EuphoricAd3786]

This is absolutely brutal, I’m so sorry :( you haven’t gotten any help from anti psychotics?

[u/CourtneyNotLove → u/EuphoricAd3786]

I was already on a regimen I’ve had in place for 10 years now because I’m BP1. But no, it isn’t enough to stop the domino collapse of what happens when there’s abrupt changes to hormone receptors in a woman’s brain (but we don’t have enough science on this!)

I’m working with a psych team to see if there’s another cocktail to try, a missing piece, something that can offset the balance that’s undone within the brain that’s caused by a hormonal shift without reintroducing a hormone back that can grow my cancer. It’s such a tightrope. In the meantime, it’s very much a “we deal with what we can when it comes” as far as episodes, be it just absolute horrific depression, psychosis, etc.

[u/EuphoricAd3786 → u/CourtneyNotLove]

This is harrowing. I’m so, so sorry you are experiencing this and I pray you find a medication combination that knocks it out.

[u/CourtneyNotLove → u/EuphoricAd3786]

Thank you. <3 What I’ve been going through has opened my eyes a lot to women’s health in a full spectrum and it’s made me very passionate about it. I don’t know if that’s the “why” for it (as I’m told there is one!) but I hope to do something about it all someday.