In the Wake of the Duxbury Tragedy, Moms Are Taking to TikTok to Share Their Own Experiences with PPD

Content warning: This story contains mention of postpartum psychosis, harm to children and suicide.

The nation is still reeling after the news broke last week of a Massachusetts mother of three, Lindsay Clancy,  who allegedly killed all of her children before attempting to take her own life. 

Details of the incident that took place in the seaside town of Duxbury, MA are still emerging, but it has been widely reported that 32-year-old Clancy suffered from severe postpartum-related mental health struggles that may have contributed to the devastating chain of events.

According to the Boston Globe, Clancy, a labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, may have suffered from postpartum anxiety following the birth of her youngest son. In July, she allegedly made social media posts referencing her mental health, indicating that she was “dialed in” and that changing her exercise and nutrition routines “made all the difference.”

In the wake of the tragic news, many mothers are taking to social media to share their own experiences with postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, citing the urgent need for better healthcare for new moms as well as a bigger conversation about postpartum mental health.

“So many women do not ask for help out of shame that they are a bad mom or that they’re going to lose their kids. We need to start talking about it,” shares user @officialcorimles in a post that has received over 100k views and 2,000 comments.

Another user @douladanielletilley shared a video detailing her own experience with postpartum illness, revealing that she had intrusive thoughts after the birth of her daughter. “I couldn’t get the graphic images and sounds out of my head. And they only got worse from there. I told people and no one helped me. No one took it seriously. Lindsay, we see you. We will make change, because that could’ve been us too.”

Many users are pointing out the failure of the healthcare system and the lack of support for postpartum moms. “As a postpartum nurse, I take care of people in the hospital and I see how broken the system is,” shares user @karathebabynurse in a video that has received over 600 comments. “The resources are not there that postpartum moms need,” she adds.

Moms are also taking to social media and encouraging other women to share their postpartum experiences in order to reduce the stigma against mental illness. User @taylorrmonroe recalls her experience with intrusive thoughts after the birth of her daughter Amara. “I felt so alone” she writes. “PPD, PA, PPP need to be talked about more. The system has failed so many women, but I also feel that we as women need to open up more if we do feel these ways.”

In reference to the outpouring of support for the Massachusetts mom, user @craygardens notes: “The fact that so many people have looked at Lindsay with compassion is very telling to the medical and societal neglect we’ve all felt postpartum.” In response to the video are hundreds of comments from women sharing how little help they received after delivering their babies, with many noting that they weren't even asked to fill out a PPD survey at their six week OB/GYN checkup.

“I’m so sorry you were failed Lindsay Clancy,” writers user user fox_mamacita. “When do you think postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis will be taken more seriously? When it’s too late. Wake up. Check on your mom friends.”

Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, psychosis or depression, please reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness on  1-800-950-NAMI (6424).