BOSTON — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey emphasized the need for improved support and postpartum care for new parents, especially in light of the recent murder trial involving Lindsay Clancy. Her attorneys claimed Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she tragically killed her three children in 2023.
“To every mom who has struggled with her mental health before, during, or after pregnancy, I want you to know we see you — I see you,” Healey expressed during a visit to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
She noted the importance of candid conversations around this issue and highlighted her earlier signing of a maternal health law in 2024 aimed at enhancing access to services like doulas and midwives, as well as mandating coverage for postpartum depression screenings by insurers.
There was consensus that Clancy had killed her children and then attempted suicide by jumping from a second-story window. Now, she is paralyzed from the waist down.
Clancy’s defense argued that her actions stemmed from postpartum psychosis, while the prosecution contended that evidence pointed to her awareness of the wrongdoing. A mistrial was ultimately declared as the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.
Healey, representing the Democratic party, intends to seek $2 million from lawmakers to establish home visit programs for about 68,000 newborns each year in Massachusetts.
Participation in the home visit program wouldn’t be mandatory; however, families who choose to enroll could receive guidance from a nurse regarding newborn care, as well as support for mothers dealing with postpartum health issues and mental health screenings.
This initiative would mark the first state funding for a federally supported program that currently provides this service to about 3,000 families annually, according to Healey.
She also proposed a $250,000 investment to support the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms and instructed the state health department to revise regulations concerning perinatal mental health screenings.
Healey remarked on the contrasting experiences of childbirth, calling it “one of life’s most joyous experiences” but acknowledging it can also be “one of the most challenging.”
Here’s the latest on Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial:
“For new mothers, it can be exhausting, isolating, and overwhelming,” she added.
While Massachusetts has made significant strides in healthcare access, boasting one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country, challenges in maternal care persist.
According to the state’s maternal mortality review committee, mental illness, including substance use disorders, was the leading cause of death among pregnant and postpartum women in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2024, accounting for 38% of cases. Alarmingly, 85% of these deaths were deemed preventable, and over half occurred between one week and one year following childbirth.
If you or someone you know is facing any of the issues mentioned, consider reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or texting the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
