08/06/2026
Just a reminder that this horrible tragedy in Duxbury (my home town) has multiple victims. Three beautiful babies were lost… Patrick suffered that heartbreak and the trauma of the aftermath… and Lindsay, most of all, has had to suffer the loss of the babies she loved so much, her own physical suffering, and immeasurable guilt.
There is no doubt how much Lindsay loved her babies. You can see how she begged and pleaded for help. Listening to all the mother’s guilt in her journal is evidence of just how much she was suffering and blaming herself. These are the kinds of intrusive, self-critical statements I hear from clients all too often. Mothers do not need to be perfect. Mothers need support.
So many warning signs were ignored by Lindsay’s providers. There were classic signs of mania and bipolar. When multiple medications don’t work and an SSRI sends a client into mania or causes severe insomnia… we know that a client should be screened for bipolar. Bipolar can cause psychosis during severe depression or mania.
Lindsay was voluntarily hospitalizing herself and disclosing the thoughts of hurting herself and her children. Lindsay presented with significant mania after the birth of her second child. You can hear the intrusive thoughts in her journal also. But the system is broken. It is unclear if Lindsay had a therapist who would have seen the whole picture. She tried with multiple psychiatrists but they may not have seen her long enough to recognize the patterns. The hospitals should have diagnosed her correctly, and they didn’t. Who knows if insurance was pressuring them to discharge, as they so often do.
But the reality is, postpartum mothers don’t belong in psych wards. They do not present the same as other severely ill patients. There need to be hospitals and partial programs for perinatal and postpartum moms where they can still visit with their babies and bond while they recover in a healthy way. Our healthcare system needs to support women and mothers so much more than it currently does.
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This post is for education and awareness only and reflects my professional perspective and opinions. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and I am not your healthcare or mental health provider. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or someone you love, please reach out to a qualified healthcare or mental health professional for an individualized evaluation and support.
If you are experiencing thoughts of su***de, thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, severe confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, or other symptoms that feel dangerous or like an emergency, seek emergency care immediately or call 911.
Support is available:
• 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support.
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) for free, confidential, 24/7 support during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Postpartum Support International (PSI): Call 1-800-944-4773 or text 800-944-4773 for perinatal mental health support, information, and resources.
Official resources: 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline · National Maternal Mental Health Hotline · Postpartum Support International. The maternal hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7; PSI’s HelpLine provides support and referrals but is not an emergency service.
