What does the Lindsay Clancy trial tell us about treating maternal mental health?

Lindsay Clancy is currently on trial for killing her three children.

Prosecutors say the murders were intentional, but her defense team says she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis -- a condition that does not have a distinct diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

That's the handbook used to identify mental health conditions, so patients often have a hard time getting proper care.

The case has put a spotlight on maternal mental health and how its treated by the public and healthcare professionals. What does it reveal?


WBUR’s Deborah Becker contributed reporting to this episode.

It was produced by Megan Lim and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Éowyn Fain, Hannah Gluvna and Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Justine Kenin and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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