147: The big problem with some maternal mental health content right now

Welcome to Two Truths—a best-selling newsletter by health journalist Cassie Shortsleeve and Motherspeak creator Kelsey Haywood Lucas. Two Truths explores the many facets of maternal health and living well in today’s world. It’s been named a “best parenting Substack” by Motherly, recommended by The Skimm, and featured in Today, Fast Company, Women’s Health, The Bump & more.

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Maternal mental health has gotten a national spotlight this week, largely due to the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the mother and nurse who killed her three young children in 2023 before attempting suicide. Postpartum psychosis—a temporary, treatable, yet severe mental health condition and psychiatric emergency—is at the center of her trial.

We covered Clancy’s story and published a primer on postpartum psychosis in the second issue of this newsletter. We also updated our conversation with reproductive psychiatrists Lucy Hutner, M.D., and Kara Brown, M.D., last week when the trial started, and Cassie has been reporting on the topic for major media outlets like Women’s Health. You can find some of our coverage below:

Today, we are writing to say that putting a spotlight on maternal mental health is a good thing. Raising awareness around perinatal mental health conditions and, specifically, sharing stories about our own experiences can help to decrease stigma, encourage others to speak up, and build the support systems we so desperately need more of in this country. Knowing you’re not alone when you’re facing a perinatal mental health condition can be healing—a big part of recovery, even. And also: Sharing stories isn’t enough. We also need to be sharing resources.

Last year, Postpartum Support International published an open letter to the media on covering maternal mental health tragedies, noting that research has found crimes committed by women, particularly those involving their children, tend to receive more graphic coverage and longer-lasting coverage than comparable crimes committed by men. The group urged basic precautions, including always listing resources such as the Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA or 1-833-852-6262).

“A lot of progress is made because of the power of stories, but it’s not the stories alone that make the change,” said Wendy Davis, Ph.D., executive director of Postpartum Support International, when we spoke to her about the power of resources being shared with stories during previous reporting. “It’s individuals getting the help they need. One of the most important things that we focus on is helping people find their way to get the help they need—informed care and support and feeling included and safe in receiving that support. The stories are really important. But if you’re just telling stories, you’re still not getting necessarily the care you need. Resources exist and can save lives.”

We are happy and encouraged to see many major media outlets, including The Boston Globe’s live trial coverage, and many others include resources around maternal mental health right at the top of their coverage. We’ve also noticed that resources are still missing from many of the conversations going on right now. We’re reminding media brands, leaders in the perinatal space, and social media platforms speaking to maternal health that best practices for reporting on maternal health include always sharing support resources.

After all, there is potential for harm when wide-scale sharing occurs without the necessary resources that could save lives when moms consume this type of content. For example, one Instagram carousel from a major motherhood account with over half a million followers that we spotted recently used images of Clancy during her trial to take part in a social media “trend,” offering access to an educational article (which we hope was full of resources) for those who commented. While the post may have been well-intended, it landed poorly. Easily accessible resources are paramount to seeking and receiving the care someone may need.

If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter, you know that perinatal mental health conditions such as perinatal/postpartum depression or anxiety are the leading complication of birth in this country. Mental health conditions, including suicide and overdose, are the leading cause of pregnancy-related death.

Perinatal mental health conditions are also temporary and highly treatable.

As Catherine Birndorf, M.D., a reproductive psychiatrist and CEO of The Motherhood Center in New York City, told Cassie recently for Women’s Health, “Whenever I talk to a new potential patient on the phone, I tell them, ‘We do this all day long, and we can get you well.’”

» Read Cassie’s op-ed in Women’s Health published last week, The Lindsay Clancy Trial Put a Spotlight on Maternal Mental Health—Here Are Some Things We Need to Clear Up.

The maternal mental health crisis is a preventable one. Sharing maternal mental health resources can save lives, and anyone can make a difference.

These resources include:

• The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA or 1-833-852-6262)

• Postpartum Support International

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988

• Many more, including the resources listed at the bottom of this issue, and any issue we publish on maternal mental health.

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