Bozeman
I’d like to discuss a few troubling things in the Treasure State as of late.
First, on Thursday in Roundup a 41-year old woman shot her 5-year old son and then herself.
She was from Colorado and involved in a contentious custody dispute.
Then, just last night we had a woman in Bozeman shoot her 6-month old baby boy before shooting her husband and then herself.
Both Bozeman parents worked for Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the husband for 21 years.
What a tragedy.
Post-partum depression is a serious thing and we should talk about it more.
I’m not sure of the circumstances in this case but it seems that a lot of people were aware she was not having a good time and struggling with that condition.
I don’t know what to do about that.
According to Postpartum Progress, up to 20% of women giving birth experience post-partum depression.
That comes out to 600,000 women in America each year.
“Given the shame associated with PPD,” however, “it’s possible that some women didn’t report symptoms.”
The site has a lot of information on risk factors for postpartum depression and why women get it.
For the most part, it’s hormonal changes, often causing a drop in estrogen and progesterone. If thyroid levels drop as well, you’ve got more problems. All this leads to fatigue and depression.
When it comes to that woman in Roundup, I don’t know.
We do know that 450 kids are killed by their parents each year, according to FBI figures reported in USA Today.
“Three out of four child victims are younger than 5,” we’re told, while “in 56% of all cases, fathers are the killers.”
That didn’t happen in Roundup. Still, we know divorce was a role. The Center for Judicial Excellence tracked 287 incidents of parents killing their children while in a custody battle, and that since 2008.
First, on Thursday in Roundup a 41-year old woman shot her 5-year old son and then herself.
She was from Colorado and involved in a contentious custody dispute.
Then, just last night we had a woman in Bozeman shoot her 6-month old baby boy before shooting her husband and then herself.
Both Bozeman parents worked for Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the husband for 21 years.
What a tragedy.
Post-partum depression is a serious thing and we should talk about it more.
I’m not sure of the circumstances in this case but it seems that a lot of people were aware she was not having a good time and struggling with that condition.
I don’t know what to do about that.
According to Postpartum Progress, up to 20% of women giving birth experience post-partum depression.
That comes out to 600,000 women in America each year.
“Given the shame associated with PPD,” however, “it’s possible that some women didn’t report symptoms.”
The site has a lot of information on risk factors for postpartum depression and why women get it.
For the most part, it’s hormonal changes, often causing a drop in estrogen and progesterone. If thyroid levels drop as well, you’ve got more problems. All this leads to fatigue and depression.
When it comes to that woman in Roundup, I don’t know.
We do know that 450 kids are killed by their parents each year, according to FBI figures reported in USA Today.
“Three out of four child victims are younger than 5,” we’re told, while “in 56% of all cases, fathers are the killers.”
That didn’t happen in Roundup. Still, we know divorce was a role. The Center for Judicial Excellence tracked 287 incidents of parents killing their children while in a custody battle, and that since 2008.
I was deeply troubled when I heard that Roundup story the other day. It’s a sad thing.
What do you do about that?
I don’t know.
I decided I’d give $10 to Prevent Child Abuse America.
I wrote them a note telling them what happened in Roundup and put a check in there.
I don’t know if it’ll do much good.
It made me feel good, or at least that I was doing something.
Now I’m feeling upset and sad and angry at this news out of Bozeman.
Should I just write off another check to a child abuse or depression charity?
Sadly, I don’t think that will do much to solve the problem.
What is the problem?
I think it stems from the same thing that our substance abuse issues stem from, and that’s a society that causes people to lose hope instead of gain it.
Society sucks.
I talked about that a lot last month in a post called the Terrible State of Our Country.
Most people hate their jobs, aren’t happy at home, and feel disassociated from those they should be closest to.
We might have the fanciest doo-dads and the latest gadget, but are those things making us happy?
I don’t think they are.
I’m not sure that’s the real problem in these two tragedies the state has experienced this week.
Regardless, we should talk about those tragedies, and maybe talk to our families.
St. Patrick’s Day and Easter are coming up. Maybe sending a card to someone is a good idea. It’ll also help out the Post Office.
Put a little cheer into someone’s life!
Hey, it’s not much…but it’s something.
Maybe if more of us do something we won’t see so many of these tragic stories.
