Lindsay Clancy: Psychosis, Postpartum Depression, Catholic Lens

I’m going to explore the deepest truths of the Lindsay Clancy case. There is tremendous shock value in her tragic story, but I want to humanize it through a Catholic lens. What may have happened in mental-health terms is that she either developed bipolar II disorder in her mid-to-late twenties, with manic episodes and psychotic features beginning around age thirty, or that excessive medication created a dopamine imbalance and triggered bipolar II disorder with psychotic features. As Catholics, we need to see beyond someone’s diagnosis and actions and approach them through the lens of human dignity. In Catholicism, there is a significant difference between what is objectively sinful and what a person is culpable for. Lindsay Clancy committed acts that were objectively sinful and horrific. However, she may not have been culpable for her actions if her reality was completely distorted. It is important that we view her—and all those who struggle with psychosis—as troubled human beings who desperately wish they were different. How does someone manage psychosis effectively? There are often intensive outpatient programs or partial-hospitalization programs where people receive a combination of individual counseling, group therapy, and psychiatric care. With this support, many people are able to manage psychosis quite well. It seems that Lindsay Clancy did not receive the support she needed, so she deserves sympathy. What about postpartum depression, which may have been a key factor in her case? Much of the treatment for postpartum depression involves addressing hormonal changes and depressive symptoms. But there is one thing that can make an even greater difference than hormones or depression treatment: having one’s needs met. When a woman and her husband focus on meeting her wellness and self-care needs as fully as possible, it can often help heal postpartum depression. What this means for us as Catholics is that we can be compassionate in the aftermath of tragedy and look for ways to care for those who are struggling with mental-health issues. The poor are not only those without money. Let us see and serve those who have mental-health needs.