A mother seeking help for her mental health loses custody of her children, instead—and it’s so wrong (Motherly)

Karen Clemmer 10/21/193:17 PM

By Heather Marcoux, Oct 15, 2019, for Motherly

We've come a long way when it comes to talking about maternal mental health. These days celebrities speak openly about their experiences with perinatal mood disorders and many regular mothers share their experiences on social media. In 2019 it's okay to say "this is hard and I need help," but what actually happens when we ask for help varies and, in some instances, is downright unacceptable.

Recently an Alabama mom to a 2-year-old and a 2-month-old—we'll call her Beth to protect her privacy—showed up at her obstetrician's office seeking treatment for depression and unwelcome thoughts. But Beth didn't get the help she expected. Instead, her children were removed from the home she shares with her husband and were placed in the care of a relative.
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Carey SippFormer Director of Strategic Partnerships

This is a horrific example of how seeking help can backfire and cause a person to never want to ask for help again. Wow.

Thanks for posting. There is a lot of work to be done to protect mothers. Protecting mothers protects babies.

10/21/196:47 PM

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