Experts urge better postpartum care for mothers as national cases draw attention

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - In the wake of tragic headlines surrounding maternal mental health, medical experts are stressing that mothers are still not receiving the critical support they need.

National attention has recently refocused on postpartum depression and psychosis following the death of actress Hayden Panettiere at age 36, and the ongoing trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Boston-area mother accused of killing her three children in 2023. Her defense team argues she was in the grips of severe postpartum psychosis and lacked proper medical care. Panettiere had spoken openly about her own postpartum depression struggles after her daughter’s birth in 2014, a decision she said ultimately harmed her career through lost brand partnerships.

Locally, healthcare providers are launching major efforts to step in and support mothers after delivery. Dr. Joyce Adams, an associate professor at the Eck Institute for Global Health, has partnered with Beacon Health System to pilot a focused postpartum care model. The initiative aims to help new mothers safely navigate both physical and mental health challenges during the critical weeks following childbirth.

The full interview with Dr. Joyce Adams discussing postpartum care and her pilot model can be viewed in the video player at the top of this page.

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