A mother who allegedly has post-partum depression killed her three children inside their home in Basud town, Camarines Norte province, Wednesday morning.
According to Police Major Malu Calubaquib, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5), the 28-year-old suspect identified as Joan Magistrado, hacked her three young daughters with a bolo.
Calubaquib identified the children as Mitzuki, 5; Zuyen, 1-year-old, and 8 months; and Zoe, a four-month-old baby.
After killing the three victims, the suspect also stabbed herself, Calubaquib said.
Responders rushed the suspect and her children to Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital in Daet town, Camarines Norte, for medical treatment. Unfortunately, the attending physician declared the three girls dead on-arrival.
The mother, meanwhile, was still undergoing medical treatment at the hospital.
What is post-partum depression?
Post-partum depression occurs in women soon after giving birth. Symptoms include sadness and hopelessness.
According to WebMD, several factors can increase the risk of post-partum depression, including:
- a history of depression before becoming pregnant, or during pregnancy
- age at the time of pregnancy — the younger you are, the higher the risk
- ambivalence about the pregnancy
- children — the more you have, the more likely you are to be depressed in a subsequent pregnancy
- having a history of depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- limited social support
- living alone
- marital conflict
Symptoms of post-partum disorder
- Depressed mood or severe mood swings
- Excessive crying
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
- Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much
- Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy
- Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Intense irritability and anger
- Fear that you’re not a good mother
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
- Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
- Restlessness
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Several crimes related to mental health have been recorded since the enhanced community quarantine started.
In Tondo, a mentally ill man stabbed his wife and two children while they were sleeping at their residence.
Another case was ex-military Winston Ragos, who was suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). A cop killed Ragos over an alleged ECQ violation.