Trigger Warning: This article discusses murder, self-harm and mental health.
Unfolding in Plymouth, Massachusetts right now, the case of Lindsay Clancy has gained global attention, becoming a talking point that has fascinated, disturbed and, above all, divided many.
Clancy, 35, is on trial for murder in the first degree of her three children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and eight-month-old Callan. Prosecutors allege she strangled each of the children with fitness bands in the basement of her Duxbury home in January of 2023 before attempting to take her own life.
In testimony from her ex-husband, Patrick Clancy recalled coming home to an “unusually quiet” home before finding his wife lying in the yard, having jumped from their second-story window. She was discovered with “deep cuts on her wrists… and a red line across her neck.”
Clancy has not denied killing her children. But she has pleaded ‘not guilty’.
How? Clancy’s legal team says the mother-of-three was “suffering from psychosis at the time”, likely referring to perinatal psychosis.
What Is Perinatal Psychosis?
Perinatal psychosis affects around one to two in every 1000 new mothers. Though less common than perinatal depression and anxiety, it can be severe and sudden.
“Perinatal mental illness does not discriminate. It affects mothers, fathers, partners and families regardless of background, income or postcode,” Karen Edwards, clinical director of The Gidget Foundation, told marie claire Australia.
Onset is typically rapid, often emerging within the first few weeks after birth, though in some cases it can appear within hours of delivery. Because psychosis essentially involves a break from reality, it can be a frightening experience, particularly for those who have never encountered it before and struggle to distinguish between what is real and what the illness is presenting to them.
According to The Royal Women’s Hospital, several factors are thought to contribute to the condition, including genetic predisposition, severe sleep deprivation in the days after birth, rapid post-birth hormonal shifts, and the physical toll of delivery, especially where other medical complications are present. There is also a well-documented link to bipolar disorder: women with bipolar disorder face a higher risk of relapse with psychotic symptoms following birth, and for some, a psychotic episode after delivery marks the first sign of undiagnosed bipolar illness.
Perinatal psychosis is considered a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate treatment, usually delivered in hospital, either in a mother-baby psychiatric unit or a general psychiatric ward. Treatment typically involves medication, though in severe cases electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used as the fastest path to recovery.
Edwards explains that untreated perinatal depression, anxiety or psychosis can have long-term impacts on parent-infant bonding and family wellbeing.
“Early intervention and accessible support can make a profound difference,” she says, adding: “It’s not just about helping the parent feel better, it’s about giving the baby and the family the best start possible.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with perinatal depression, anxiety or psychosis, free support is available through The Gidget Foundation. Visit gidgetfoundation.org.au or call the Gidget Helpline on 1300 851 758.
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