Statement on Andrea Yates verdict
Texas NOW president Hannah Riddering made the following statement:
"Texas NOW is relieved to see justice done in the Andrea Yates case. The deaths of the Yates children were a terrible tragedy. And when we see tragedies like this, which seem so horrible and inexplicable, it's natural to look for someone to blame. But in this case, there's not a person to blame, but a disease: postpartum depression and psychosis. Andrea was under treatment by experienced medical professionals, and even they were unable to successfully identify and treat this disorder. We must do more to help women suffering from this terrible illness.
"We commend celebrities like Brooke Shields for their courage in coming forward and sharing their experience of postpartum depression. Education and awareness raising are the keys to treatment and prevention. So we encourage doctors to educate themselves on the differential diagnosis and proper treatment. We encourage women and their partners to be aware of warning signs and seek help if they need to. Most of all, we encourage everyone who knows a mother suffering from postpartum depression to offer as much support as they can. The more we raise awareness and provide these mothers with the help and support they need, the more chance we have to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
Symptoms to look for:
- Inability to sleep or sleeping a lot
- Change in appetite
- Irritability
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Extreme concern and worry about the baby or a lack of interest or feelings for the baby
- Feeling unable to love the baby or your family
- Anger toward the baby, your partner, or other family members
- Fear of harming your baby. These thoughts may be obsessive, and you may be afraid to be left alone in the house with your baby.
If you have three or more of these symptoms, please take care of yourself and seek medical attention.
For more information:
For fathers, partners, and family::