Ten years ago, Meghan Cliffel was a working mother in New York City who experienced a dramatic shift in her mental health following the birth of her second child. In December 2015, she began to believe she was being surveilled and soon found herself lost in a terrifying delusion, convinced the entire city was against her. Her condition escalated to hallucinations, and her behavior became unrecognizable to her husband, Colin. During a crisis, she attempted to “rescue” her daughters and threatened to harm herself. Colin called 911, and Meghan was hospitalized for two weeks, eventually being diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness distinct from postpartum depression. Dr. Veerle Bergink, an expert in women’s health, describes postpartum psychosis as a psychiatric emergency with symptoms like mania, racing thoughts, and loss of reality. While suicide is a significant risk, infanticide is rare. This condition highlights the importance of understanding and addressing maternal mental health.
QUESTION: How might increased awareness and understanding of postpartum psychosis change the way society supports new mothers?
What is postpartum psychosis?
