Mental Health Crisis in Mothers
Introduction: When Motherhood Meets Mental Illness
Motherhood is often described as a sacred bond, filled with love, care, and sacrifice. Yet, beneath this idealized image, there are darker realities that rarely enter mainstream conversations. For some women, childbirth triggers profound psychological changes. Postpartum depression, psychosis, unresolved trauma, and untreated psychiatric disorders can transform caregiving into unbearable suffering.
Around the world, numerous cases have surfaced where mothers—overwhelmed by mental instability, marital disputes, or societal neglect—have harmed or even killed their own children. These incidents are not mere “crimes” but tragic outcomes of untreated mental health crises.
This blog highlights five heart-wrenching cases from Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia. Each demonstrates how fragile the line between care and tragedy can become when mental health support is missing. By analyzing these cases, we aim to identify systemic failures, raise awareness, and suggest preventive measures to protect vulnerable mothers and their children.
Case 1: Munshiganj, Bangladesh – Infant Found Dead in a Pond
On 25 July, in Shulpur village of Sirajdikhan upazila, Munshiganj, a 24-day-old infant boy was found dead in a pond near his maternal home. Relatives had woken up early to discover the baby missing, and a blanket found near the water hinted at disaster.
The infant’s father, Dinesh Mondol, alleged that his wife, Sharathi Mondol (37), who had long been struggling with mental illness, was responsible. Sharathi offered contradictory statements—claiming at one point that the baby “slipped.” Police detained her for questioning, noting her unstable state of mind.
The tragedy was doubly heartbreaking because the child, the youngest of three siblings, was scheduled to be named that very day in accordance with Hindu traditions. Instead of a celebration, the family faced an unimaginable loss. This case illustrates how untreated psychiatric illness and weak family monitoring can culminate in tragedy.
Case 2: Sirajganj, Bangladesh – Nine-Month-Old Slaughtered
In Jotpara village of Shahjadpur upazila, nine-month-old Mahmud Ullah was brutally killed by his mother, Mukta Khatun (25). Police investigations revealed shocking details: she taped the infant’s mouth shut with scotch tape to prevent him from crying, then hacked him to death with a sharp weapon.
The murder occurred while her husband was leaving for work in Sylhet. According to the child’s grandmother, the couple’s marital disputes had escalated during the COVID-19 lockdown. Police also suspected extramarital conflicts as a possible trigger.
This case underscores the dangerous overlap of domestic conflict, psychological breakdown, and lack of social support. In moments of extreme distress, Mukta’s instability found its outlet in violence toward her own child. Without effective mental health intervention, personal disputes can tragically spiral into infanticide.
Case 3: Khagrachari, Bangladesh – Three-Year-Old Killed by Mother
In Khagrachari town’s Shantinagar area, three-year-old boy was killed by his mother, Sabina Yasmin Bani (28), around 1 am. Unlike most cases, Sabina herself reported the incident to her landlord immediately after it happened.
Her family revealed that she had been under psychiatric treatment since the birth of her first child, pointing to a long history of postpartum and ongoing mental instability. Her husband, employed at a local pharmaceutical company, was not at home at the time.
Police recovered the boy’s body and sent it for autopsy at Khagrachari Modern District Hospital. Legal proceedings were initiated, but the deeper tragedy remains: Sabina’s illness had been recognized, yet either her treatment was insufficient or her condition was underestimated. This case highlights the gap between diagnosis and continuous support in mental health care.
Case 4: Gumla, India – Infant’s Death Amid Medication Changes
In Gumla district, Jharkhand (India), 18-month-old Nitu was killed by her mother, Phulmani Devi. Reports revealed that Phulmani slit her daughter’s throat with a kitchen tool while dressing her in warm clothes.
What makes this case particularly significant is that Phulmani had been receiving treatment for mental illness since 2018. Neighbours noted that her condition had worsened recently, possibly due to medication changes or poor compliance. Her husband heard the child crying but arrived too late.
Police arrested Phulmani and recovered the weapon. During questioning, she remained silent, a reflection of her unstable mental state. This case demonstrates that simply prescribing medication is not enough. Regular monitoring, family education, and crisis intervention strategies are critical to prevent psychiatric relapse leading to violence.
Case 5: Malaysia – Panic, Infanticide, and Legal Recognition
In George Town, Malaysia, a young mother named Santhiea (18 at the time, now 23) was convicted of infanticide after throwing her newborn from an apartment. The court acknowledged her fragile mental state, describing the act as “spontaneous and unconscious in a state of panic.”
She pleaded guilty under infanticide laws, which recognize that postpartum mental disturbance can impair a mother’s judgment. The judge imposed a fine of RM10,000 rather than a long prison sentence, reflecting compassion for her psychiatric condition.
Although tragic, this case shows a progressive legal approach: acknowledging maternal mental illness not just as criminal intent but as a mitigating factor requiring treatment and social rehabilitation.
Understanding the Common Threads related Mental Health Crisis in Mothers
Across these five cases, several patterns emerge:
- Mental illness, often untreated or poorly managed
- Mothers suffered from depression, postpartum psychosis, or chronic psychiatric conditions.
- Triggering life stressors
- Marital disputes, economic hardship, lockdown pressures, or overwhelming caregiving responsibilities.
- Lack of monitoring and support
- Even where treatment had begun, families and healthcare systems failed to ensure continuity and crisis intervention.
- Children as the most vulnerable victims
- Infants and toddlers, unable to defend themselves, bore the consequences of their mothers’ instability.
- Legal responses vary
- From harsh criminal charges to compassionate recognition of mental illness, justice systems treat these cases differently across countries.
Why Maternal Mental Health Needs Urgent Attention
Postpartum Disorders Are Common but Underdiagnosed
Globally, 10–20% of mothers experience postpartum depression. In severe cases, postpartum psychosis can lead to hallucinations, delusions, and violent impulses. Without treatment, the risk to both mother and child escalates.
Social Stigma Blocks Help-Seeking
Many mothers fear judgment if they admit to struggling with motherhood. In conservative communities, mental illness is often dismissed as weakness, spiritual punishment, or family dishonor.
Economic and Domestic Pressures
Financial strain, domestic violence, and lack of supportive partners amplify psychiatric stress. COVID-19 lockdowns intensified these triggers by isolating families and magnifying disputes.
Preventing Tragedies: What Can Be Done?
1. Early Screening During Pregnancy and After Birth
Healthcare systems should include routine mental health checkups during antenatal visits and postpartum follow-ups. Simple screening tools can identify at-risk mothers.
2. Accessible Mental Health Services
Community clinics must provide affordable psychiatric services, medication, and counseling. Outreach programs in rural areas are critical.
3. Family Education and Involvement
Families need training to recognize warning signs—withdrawal, aggression, confusion, or neglect. Caregivers must also understand the importance of medication adherence.
4. Emergency Crisis Hotlines
Helplines staffed with mental health professionals can provide immediate support to mothers in distress, preventing impulsive actions.
5. Legal and Social Safeguards
Instead of treating such cases solely as crimes, legal systems should emphasize psychiatric evaluation, rehabilitation, and structured monitoring.
6. Reducing Stigma Through Public Awareness
Public campaigns should normalize conversations around maternal depression and psychosis. Mothers should feel safe to say: “I need help.”
Conclusion about Mental Health Crisis in Mothers
The cases from Munshiganj, Sirajganj, Khagrachari, Gumla, and Malaysia are not isolated tragedies—they are symptoms of a larger mental health crisis among mothers. Each child lost is a reminder that untreated psychiatric illness, domestic pressures, and lack of support can have irreversible consequences.
Preventing such tragedies requires a multidisciplinary approach: medical intervention, family awareness, legal reform, and societal compassion. Every mother deserves care, and every child deserves safety. By acknowledging maternal mental health as a public health priority, we can transform stories of despair into journeys of healing.
FAQ questions about Mental Health Crisis in Mothers
1. What is maternal mental health and why is it important?
Maternal mental health refers to a mother’s emotional and psychological well-being during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Poor maternal mental health can lead to conditions like depression, anxiety, or psychosis, which may affect both the mother’s and child’s safety.
2. Can untreated mental illness lead mothers to harm their children?
Yes. In severe cases, untreated mental illnesses such as postpartum psychosis, schizophrenia, or major depression can distort a mother’s thinking, leading to harmful or even fatal actions toward their children.
3. How do courts view cases of infanticide linked to mental illness?
Many legal systems, including those in Malaysia and India, recognise the impact of disturbed mental states on mothers. Some cases are classified under “infanticide laws,” which account for postpartum mental instability and may reduce punishment compared to murder.
4. What are the warning signs of postpartum mental health issues?
Warning signs include extreme mood swings, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawal from family, hallucinations, paranoia, or thoughts of harming oneself or the child.
5. How can tragedies like these be prevented?
Prevention requires early mental health screening during pregnancy, access to psychiatric care, family support, medication management, and breaking the stigma around maternal mental health.