Lindsay Clancy’s trial in Massachusetts has highlighted significant weaknesses in the recognition and management of postpartum mental health crises. Her case prompts urgent questions regarding discharge practices, follow-up care, and prevention strategies.
© CJ GUNTHER 2026
On January 5, 2023, a psychiatric hospital discharged Lindsay Clancy. She had been admitted just days before, facing challenges like sleep deprivation, racing thoughts, and the burden of raising three young children. Less than three weeks later, her three children were deceased.
The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy in Massachusetts has brought postpartum mental health issues to the forefront, not as an isolated incident of a rare psychiatric breakdown but as a revelation of how common mental health crises often go unnoticed and untreated.
Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 7 women, while postpartum psychosis, the condition central to Clancy’s trial, is much less common, affecting 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 women. The critical issue is that most women facing postpartum mental health challenges never seek help. They fail to recognize their symptoms, and these signs often go unnoticed by doctors and partners. The Clancy trial exposes the discrepancy between our understanding of postpartum mental health and the actions we take.
Postpartum Depression Symptoms: What It Actually Looks Like (And Why Most Women Miss It)
The general perception is that postpartum depression manifests as sadness, but this is misleading and causes many women to overlook their symptoms.
Postpartum depression can present in ways that defy typical depression stereotypes, making it difficult for women to identify. For instance, a mother may have intrusive thoughts — persistent, unwelcome images of harm coming to her baby — which frighten her precisely because they contrast with her love for her child. She might also encounter uncharacteristic rage or feel a deep sense of numbness toward her baby, despite a strong desire to connect emotionally.
Dr. Nazlim Hagmann, MD, MPH, MBA, MSc — a board-certified psychiatrist and strategic advisor to Willow Health, a virtual behavioral health company — shares, “In my experience, the numbness is often the symptom women hide the longest. Rage or intrusive thoughts feel alarming enough to mention to someone. Numbness feels like failure.”
Common symptoms include:
- Intrusive thoughts: Persistent, unwanted thoughts about harm that contradict what you actually want
- Rage: Disproportionate anger that doesn’t feel like you
- Numbness: Disconnection from your baby, life, and partner despite going through the motions
- Brain fog: Cognitive impairment so pronounced that basic tasks feel impossible
Before her hospitalization, Clancy wrote in her diary expressing feelings of desperation and confusion, noting, “I feel like I’m drowning every day,” and “I have crazy brain fog.”
These symptoms are not personal failings but indicators of a treatable medical condition. However, without proper identification, women might question themselves, feeling they should be happy and wondering what’s wrong with them, assuming other mothers cope just fine.
Why Most Women Don’t Get Help for Postpartum Depression: 5 Critical Barriers
Approximately 50% of women with postpartum depression never receive professional care. Why is this the case?
Stigma: The expectations surrounding motherhood are overwhelming. Women are expected to feel joyous, grateful, and capable. When they don’t, the assumption is that the issue lies with them, not their brain chemistry. As a result, women may interpret their depression as a personal flaw, adding guilt to their symptoms.
Lack of recognition: An overburdened OB-GYN might ask, “How are you feeling?” and accept a brief “fine.” Partners might assume the mother is simply adjusting to parenthood. Postpartum depression doesn’t reveal itself in clear ways.
Screening gaps: Comprehensive screening for postpartum mental health is not universally practiced before hospital discharge. Not all OBs conduct screenings during postpartum visits. While effective screening tools exist, there’s often a disconnect between best practices and actual implementation. Without the right questions, depression can go undetected.
Access barriers: Finding a therapist is time-consuming, and navigating insurance can be complex. Coordinating childcare to attend therapy sessions can be a logistical challenge. Cost is often a prohibitive factor.
The discharge gap: Testimonies during Clancy’s trial shed light on the care she received while hospitalized, but what happened afterward is less clear. There’s frequently a significant gap between inpatient stabilization and outpatient care. If follow-up care isn’t prompt, with appointments scheduled days apart rather than weeks, patients remain vulnerable.
Dr. Hagmann emphasizes, “The discharge gap is the gap we see most often. When people come out of the hospital, they might be stabilized, but they are still very fragile. Virtual care matters here because it removes barriers that can keep a postpartum woman, especially one without much support, from getting to a follow-up appointment in the first place, like childcare, transportation, etc. Same day or next day access shouldn’t be the exception for anyone but especially not for this population, it should be the standard.”
Postpartum Depression Red Flags: Warning Signs for You and Your Family
For You:
- Sleep disruption that persists even when the baby is sleeping
- Intrusive thoughts about harm (to yourself or your baby)
- Inability to enjoy things that normally bring joy
- Persistent anxiety, rage, or disconnection from your baby
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of self-harm
For Partners and Family:
- Withdrawal or unusual quietness
- Expressions of hopelessness or feeling like a burden
- Unusual irritability or anger
- Not sleeping even when able
- Any mention of harming herself or the baby—seek help immediately
How to Get Help: Treatment Options and Resources
Start with your OB-GYN. Clearly describe your symptoms. Saying “I’m having intrusive thoughts about my baby getting hurt” is more informative than “I’m not feeling great.” Ask:
- What postpartum depression screening do you do?
- What are my treatment options?
- What medications are safe if I’m breastfeeding?
- When is my follow-up appointment?
Understand your insurance before you need it. Mental health coverage can vary significantly. Does therapy require prior authorization? What’s the copay? What medications are covered? If you’re planning for parenthood, this should be part of your considerations.
If your doctor doesn’t take it seriously, find a new doctor. Postpartum mental health is a medical, not moral, issue. If you’re advised to “just relax” or told “all new mothers feel this way,” seek a healthcare provider who recognizes the importance of the situation.
Therapy works. Evidence supports the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Teletherapy can help overcome accessibility barriers.
Crisis Resources:
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
- Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Preparedness Matters
The Lindsay Clancy case is a tragic rarity, but postpartum mental health crises are not. Most women dealing with postpartum depression can recover effectively with treatment.
However, recovery starts with recognition. Someone must identify and address the issue, whether it’s you, your partner, your doctor, or your financial advisor.
If you’re planning for parenthood, discussions about postpartum mental health should involve your healthcare provider and anyone who assists with your financial and health planning. Postpartum mental health is an essential part of family planning, influencing decisions about leave, childcare, and healthcare expenses.
Learn the warning signs. Ask the right questions. Understand your insurance. Discuss these issues with your partner before the baby arrives. Seek help if needed.
Struggling is not a failure. Not seeking help is where the struggle lies.
