25 Sep Postpartum Psychosis + Mental Health Stigma= 40 Years in Prison: It’s time to speak up!
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.
~William Faulkner
I’ve been working as the expert evaluator on a postpartum case for over five years. Because the case is still active, and because I’m still the expert witness, I’ve had to keep silent about it all this time. But, I can keep silent no longer. Her attorneys and advocates and I all feel the same: we must speak up. Something must be done. (Though I have permission from the client to use her name, at the advice of her attorneys I refrain from doing so, because I don’t want to endanger her case in any way.)
2001…
This woman, at 23 years of age, was sentenced to 40 years without parole for child abuse. After evaluating her case these past years, it is clear to me she was suffering from significant postpartum mental illness at the time, including postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (as a result of a horrific childbirth experience), postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum depression, and eventually and most prominently, postpartum psychosis.
The baby recovered from her injuries and was adopted away into another family after this woman’s parental rights were severed. She could never have children again, thanks to the emergency hysterectomy she’d endured while passed out from blood loss during childbirth, and thus, another punishment was inflicted—sentenced to a childless life.
She was never evaluated for postpartum mental illness in her initial trial. In fact, she was hardly evaluated for any mental illness at all; it certainly wasn’t mentioned at her trial, even though the judge stated that clearly she had to be mentally ill to do what she had done. Because it was considered a “child abuse” case, the stigma was strong. She was an “abuser,” and seen as a criminal. The prosecutor threw the book at her. The judges’ hands were tied. Even though he stated his vehement disagreement with the sentence, by law, he had to impose it—four back to back sentences of 10 years, or 40 years total.
2014…
Now, after serving thirteen years in the state prison system, and with the help of dedicated advocates, attorneys, and experts who are working pro bono, she was finally given the opportunity to seek “clemency,” or a commutation of her current ten-year sentence. Each sentence would have to receive clemency, so this was really only seeking her release for the last six years of this sentence (with two more 10-year sentences to follow for which clemency would have to be reevaluated).
Last Monday, we finally had the hearing. The room was full of attorneys, advocates, family, friends, and we were there for six hours. I was grilled on my findings, report, and expertise on postpartum mental illness (something I am very confident about). We were also all grilled on multiple small details that seemed insignificant to us, but on which they seemed stuck. I could see their ignorance about mental illness, though I did my best to educate them. I could feel the stigma speaking louder than any of us, shouting even.
In the end, judgment was swift and harsh. Clemency was denied.
After…
I left feeling beaten up. Exhausted. Depleted. I drove the two hours back home in silence, going over everything and praying for a way to let it go. In the back of my mind was the sense that this was one of those life-changing days, the kind of day you don’t forget. The kind of day that forces you to change.
It somehow reminded me of my sister’s death; a result of depression and alcoholism, she ultimately died by her 
own hand, an overdose of alcohol and acetaminophen. She was too drunk to know what she was doing. It reminded me of my close friend’s suicide, only five months ago, also a result mental illness—depression and intense anxiety. It reminded me of the great stigma attached to suicide and to the mental illnesses that led them there.
It made me think of my oldest son, away at college on his own for the first time, and the loss I’ve been feeling since he left. It made me think of my five other children at home, especially my daughter, who’s only slightly younger than this woman’s daughter would be now. It made me grateful for parents who raised me with safety and opportunities and education—who didn’t expose me to trauma, but sheltered me from it. It made me want to crawl into my husband’s arms the second I returned home and let him hold me. It reminded me what a blessed gift it is to have freedom and family and love.
And, it made my heart break. I kept picturing her, alone in her cell, feeling like this was all her fault. It made me feel guilty I could just drive back home and be with my family. She couldn’t do that. Why should I be able to? She’d been present at the hearing, via teleconference, and we could see her trying to be strong (she couldn’t see us) as the board interrogated her with question after painful question. She was definitely feeling broken at the time, and I could only imagine how broken she was feeling now.
How could this happen again? I kept asking myself. How could any one person be so misunderstood, mistreated her whole life, and flat-out discarded so many times? How does she carry on after all these blows? She’s made of stronger stuff than I; she must be. I don’t think I could survive all she’s been through.
It’s not that what she did wasn’t wrong. No one was saying that—least of all the woman herself. She even said she felt she deserved 40 years for a long time, like she was willing to trade her life for her baby’s survival. She had told me many times she was grateful she had been arrested. Fate had intervened and stopped the hurt and pain for her baby; even if it meant she would have to suffer in prison, at least her baby would survive.
No, it’s not that it wasn’t wrong. And it’s not even that she was trying to give an “excuse” for what she did. It’s that we were all trying to help the courts and judges and boards, and whomever is in a position to do something, to understand that there was a reason she did what she did: extreme mental illness. There is a clear, explanatory reason—posptartum psychosis.
Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a potentially life-threatening illness affecting about 1-2 of every 1,000 births, in which a mother becomes detached from rational thinking, in which she experiences hallucinations (hearing or seeing things), delusions (false beliefs), extreme agitation, inability to concentrate, and waxing and waning episodes of feeling like “I wasn’t myself.” Like, “someone else took over,” as many women describe it. Not all mothers with postpartum psychosis harm their babies or themselves, but 11% do, making it essential these women are immediately hospitalized and put on antipsychotic medications to bring them back to reality.
Yes, this is what this woman, this friend of mine (as she has become over the years), was experiencing all those years ago. And to punish someone with, essentially, a life sentence for suffering such trauma at the hands of postpartum psychosis is a tragedy. It is appalling.
Today…
I get it if we fail a soul one time. There was little education and understanding back then, and clearly no one understood what was really happening at the time. One time, maybe, though even that is a tragedy and can wreck a life.
But to fail a soul time after time, despite the education and understanding now available, to have a recognized top expert in postpartum mental health standing right in front of you, explaining every detail as clearly as humanly possible and yet to dismiss that expert’s years of work and data and clinical expertise in favor of one’s own opinions; to say, “While I highly respect the good doctor, and even commend her on her excellent report and work,” to state, “I agree 40 years is a very long time,” and then to state, “but…” and recount one’s own preconceived judgments with blatant disregard for all that was said those past 6 hours, and to ultimately “deny” the clemency, is a tragedy. And it fires me up. It fires me to speak up.
Right now…
We must not sit idly by as injustices abound around us. We have a voice, and we must use it. Especially those who have experienced mental illness, suicide, pregnancy/postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, psychosis, etc., first- or even second-hand—we must share our stories. We must advocate for those who no longer have a voice. We must love greatly.
And perhaps, some blessed day, this world will open, and understanding will be the norm, and compassion will be our language, and we will hold off judgment so we may instead exercise that great love.
This is my hope, and my prayer, and my life’s work. In honor of this dear woman whom we have failed again, may we speak up now so perhaps next time, we, she, and those like her, will succeed.
Has your life ever been touched by mental illness, suicide, or the stigma that covers these things? If so, I’d love to hear your experiences and insights. If not, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s speak up, everybody! It’s more than time.
Please leave a comment, below.
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Who are the judges, is it men or women in this case. I do not understand the American law system but I am not surprised; given the fact you still have the death penalty.
Obviously the child must be the first priority and it would appear that this woman is being severely punished. I am going to suggest there are gender issues to consider; it is women who suffer from this illness.
You might ask what is justice and those passing sentence are they just people or just power crazy.
Thanks Josie
Good questions, Josie. I agree, we have to wonder what they gained from denying her. In this case, it was two men, two women. These were not judges but rather a committee, appointed by our state governor. One of the women actually heard what we were saying and voted in favor of clemency. The other three were opposed, two vehemently. The issue of gender did come up by the attorneys. If men had suffered from PPD, there would be all kinds of resources by now, but it’s taken forever to finally get people to even admit it’s real, let alone for research to catch up and providers to become educated. We have a long way to go, for sure. Thank you for commenting.
This is one of the reasons, one of the Exact reasons why I started speaking publicly. If you in any way thought my voice could be of any help please do not hesitate to ask.
Sometimes hearing from someone who has actually walked in those exact shoes and come out on the other side IS what people who do not understand and are afraid to just look to professionals need to see/hear.
It is more tangible to have a person who has been there in front of them then to to say what if.
I can imagine she has a very thick skin by now. It is a very lonely place to be. I can very much understand that feeling. I have blogged about it many times.
Natachia Barlow Ramsey
I appreciate your generous offer, Natachia, and I will definitely keep you in mind. In the future, if we’re able to try for clemency again or take another route, we may need women to share their stories, so thank you. I agree, she must have very thick skin by now. I just heard today that her cellmates and counselor have been there for her, and that brings some peace to me. Thank you again! xo
A friend of mine suffered from what we call puerperal psychosis here in the UK. She actually began to display symptoms during pregnancy which is rare. She was sectioned under the Mental Health Act due to threatening to harm herself and the baby (still unborn) and she remained in a mother and baby psychiatric ward until her son was around three months old. What I have been pondering is that my friend has gone on to have a subsequent pregnancy and had a daughter with no more mental health problems (although she was assigned a social worker for support and to make sure things were progressing without any signs of illness) and is doing very well. The system worked for her and she was prevented from committing a crime and now she can lead a normal life. It seems wrong that in the case of your friend, because of not receiving the support and even the forced hospitalisation she has acted in an uncharacteristic way due to a severe mental illness which she has now recovered from. Where is the public interest in her incarceration? She has surely paid more than the price in not only being imprisoned for 14 years, but losing her child and the opportunity to have more and she is not a danger to the public. I more than echo your cry for clemency and for common sense to prevail. I will pray for you both. Best wishes for the next stage in your fight.
Wow, Michelle. Thank you for sharing your friend’s story. It sounds like you have a better system in the UK than we have here, for sure. I agree completely–had someone been there to say, “Hey, you’re not well,” and to make her get some help this would not have happened, I believe. And as for public interest, at the time she was simply seen as a “criminal” and “child abuser.” She was vilified. We who have been working on her case are now finally trying to get some public interest and hope to write a piece in the state’s newspaper and perhaps letters to the governor, etc. We no longer fear it will interfere with her case, so we are looking at all our options to try and get someone to stand up for her! The next stage is to try again for clemency in two years–hoping there is a new board and they will actually ‘get it’ this time. Thank you so very much for your support! xo
Thank you for posting this. Boy, compared to Michelle R’s description, the United States appears as an uncaring, harsh, punitive country! This tragedy, and others like it, was a systems failure – not an individual moral failing. We now know the illness, know the signs, know how to prevent tragedy and yet: STILL do almost nothing! It does not even make economic sense. How many mother-baby units could be funded on the money we instead choose to spend to prosecute (persecute) these women?
We MUST do better!
Teresa this goes hand in hand with what we were just discussing in the forum.
I often feel like I repeat the same thing over and over, but I think at some point in time the right person will hear these words.
I had one Psychologist who talked about the European statues when I was on trial for the death of my son… One. Back then there was even an argument over whether or not they could actually call it Postpartum Psychosis because I was Depressed During my pregnancy. At that time they weren’t decided that it was a precursor to PPD/PPP.
Now we know if you are depressed During pregnancy the risks are significantly higher for a Postpartum Mood Disorder.
And I too believe that until people talk/speak/use their voice things do not change.
I know it’s uncomfortable, but as I said above; sometimes people need to see an actual person standing before them who has been through the hell and come back from it.
Natacha, I actually believe that had this woman’s baby died it might have been better for her. They likely would have looked into mental illness because “who could do that to their own child?” But since she didn’t die, it was “child abuse,” which is a seen as a horrible crime, and for which women are absolutely vilified. And you should have seen the board members listening to me explain PPP over and over. It was just so hard to get them to understand, as it is to get pretty much anyone to understand, unless they’ve experienced it or seen it as many times as practitioners like I have.
I am so with you, Teresa! There is NO benefit to keeping her locked up. She’s served 13 years, she can’t have more children so she’ll never have PPP again, and she’s fully recovered and even been a model prisoner! That was probably why we were so devastated they still said “no.” It is a complete system failure, absolutely. From the police who interrogated her to the mental health providers who “evaluated” her to the courts to the boards, etc, etc, it has all failed her time and again. Again, I thank you wholeheartedly for your excellent book that has helped me come to really “get” PPP. As I said before, I quoted you several times in the hearing. It’s such a complex illness that even the most open and aware of providers still don’t understand or know what it is. I’m with you–we MUST do better! I know you are working tirelessly for that, and so am I. Hugs to you!!
Christi what is the next step in this case? Is there a next step? How do we protest? How do we put pressure on the system to let this poor woman out and finally get her the help she is owed? We need an uprising.
Carole and I are going to write an op-ed piece for the Republic, first of all. Then, the attorneys are looking into any other options, but if there are none, then it’s wait two years and pray there’s a new board who might actually ‘get it’. That’s it. We keep trying for clemency until, hopefully, one day, it works. We’re hoping that if we get people fired up now, and definitely before the next option for clemency, it may make them listen. It was crazy, though. Not only was I there and Carole, but we had an amicus brief with several organizations backing her, including PSI, and several top experts in the field. They didn’t seem to even give it the time of day. They focused all their attention on her history, and her previous drug use. It was awful. They judged her so harshly, it was hard to witness.
Wonderfully written. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Monica. It was a good release for me to write this, for sure. The first of many to come!
I’m beginning to feel that the public at large can no more accept/understand mental illness (of any kind) than they can suicide. Unless you’ve been to the edge of that abyss, you simply cannot empathize! You may feel compassion, you may feel love, you may feel genuine concern, but you cannot empathize if you’ve never been there. People are still so small minded that ‘if they can’t imagine the situation happening to them (empathize)’ they cannot wrap their minds/hearts around it. It’s pride at it’s worst extreme to fail to allow others to be flawed. It’s emotional immaturity and it’s insidious in it’s affect on humanity.
Hi Christina
From the perspective of this side of the pond (UK) it seems inconceivable that a country like the USA with such a great tradition of justice and fair treatment for all can treat a mentally ill person in such a barbaric way. It is truly mind-boggling.
I had a postpartum psychosis after the birth of my first child and am trustee of a charity that supports women in a similar situation and tries to educated health professionals and the public about PP called APP – Action on Postpartum Psychosis. Do take a look, there are many inspiring stories on our site: http://www.app-network.org
I also made a BBC Radio 4 documentary about the subject in which women speak movingly of the extremes of the condition and how it affected them:
http://www.app-network.org/unravelling-eve/
Good luck with your advocacy for this poor woman and for the others who I know are also languishing in jails across the States because they were unlucky enough to be struck down by postpartum psychosis.
Very best wishes
Clare
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Clare. I agree, it is mind-boggling. It’s an example of a time when the justice system here in the US has failed someone, for sure. I appreciate you sharing the resources and the documentary above, and I hope others will take a look and use it to help them, too. I wish you the very best. Christina
I too suffered from the grips of Post Partum Phsycosis. Thank the Lord my Family got me a good lawyer who had a forensic Phsycologist come and speak with me while I was in jail for what I had done under the grips of PPP. He then diagnosed me with PPP which I had never heard of. I had only heard of the baby blues. The judge I had was very compassionate, and put his reputation on the line with his sentence for me. Which was 9 months in jail 5 years probation a year in a recovery home. Enrolling in mental health and many more classes I had to take… I lost a lot of family over this, because of there ignorance of not believing it even exists. I also lost both my daughters which is punishment all in itself. Not including all the people I fear of finding me out from being all over the media . So yes there is a huge need for more awareness in our communities of this illness. It has been 4 years, and I’m still trying to figure out how to help other Mothers and there baby and family from never having to go through this if it can be prevented. My heart not only goes out to this young woman but for all the rest in prison for this also. My heart breaks for them ad there family’s. And I’m in hopes of starting a support group in my area, and also becoming a forensic Phsycologist specializing in PPP. I thank you all for your actions in an attempt to help save many more lives from this illness.
I feel if a “life changing” event such as “all of the above” you mentioned in article doesn’t happen to you or a loved one…no one gets it…which is a shame but true…my daughter during her pregnancy became paranoid…depressed…it was terrible. We were guided in the right direction for help (which I am grateful for) but many are not…I talk/educate anyone now who will listen….Thank you for sharing this story even tho I am reading it years later…I will share your/her story…to hopefully help someone….❤
Thank you, Christina! I love this article.
I’ve always been a strong family advocate. I had a wonderful family growing up.
What an awful tradgedy this poor woman has gone through. I fully understand about post partum psychosis as I went through this after the birth of my first child. ( and only
Child) as I have made the decision to not have any more children because of post partum psychosis. It all started when my daughter was being sick on a daily basis. I was back and forth to the doctors but no one knew what was wrong with her. She was loosin weight and I got paronoid that the health visitors and doctors would think I wasn’t feeding her properly. I stopped sleeping as I was worried my daughter would choke on her vomit. Eleven weeks later my daughter was finally diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. She had an operation to cut the thickened muscle in her stomach. By this time I was so paronoid they were going to take my daughter away I tried to take my own life with an overdose of tablets. I was sectioned and sent to a mother and baby unit for 9 months.