One Of The Darkest Cases Of Postpartum Mental Illness

[@JamesV84]

The only thing I could think about was how horrible it must feel to come home to find you lost *all* your kids... Just the thought of it makes me so sad...

[@riyanahk8307]

First reply :))

[@CameronFB]

+riyan ahmed youre really gonna comment that on such a somber comment?

[@JamesV84]

riyan ahmed You were indeed.

[@JamesV84]

***** Don't worry, no tribute is needed =/

[@luluraecanaan9297]

Same😭

[@PixieSpellsLove]

They didn't mention that her ex husband was incredibly religious and kept insisting that she kept having children.

[@kellahanna-wayne4191]

+PixieSpells This was what I was wondering about. I always wonder when a woman has as many as five children if there's a religious element or a lack of access to contraception, but even more so with a woman with severe mental illness related to having children.

[@PixieSpellsLove]

+Kella Hanna-Wayne Exactly. The whole marriage and household took a huge toll on her. She actually wanted to stop having children because she was already under a great deal of stress being the sole caregiver and house wife. Giving birth so many times at such close proximity definitely can mess with your mind and body. He wouldn't listen and believed that a woman's duty was to her husband and to give him children. I don't know if he even believed in contraception.

[@EmilyGilbeywilbey]

good point to be fair after 2 if you knew you were at risk you would call it a day!

[@elizabethshaw734]

husband was a religious nut and had her and all of those kids living in a small trailer.

[@slaymarie_rdh_2B]

yes, i completely blame the husband

[@cupnoodles201]

This is a case of a woman not getting the mental health treatment she needed. Mental health is so important, it's easy to write someone off as innately evil or bad, but can we really blame her when there were so many factors that led her to do what she did. Don't get me wrong, what she did is horrible and not justifiable, but like the video says, it was totally preventable.

[@zsuzsannamariatoth]

Hear, hear, I agree with you!

[@sheisadolly]

It would've been preventable if she tried harder to kill herself, but instead she killed her innocent children.

[@cupnoodles201]

Gizelle Lam Ignorance.

[@ieatgold]

+Gizelle Lam So you support suicide? Great... I'm sure everyone should take notes from you /sarcasm

[@user-jm4yx1yz6m]

Best comment here

[@hazelreys1103]

Why did the husband agree to have more kids knowing she was going through depression AND attempted suicide..?

[@hazelreys1103]

+Leah Iacono Thats a really sad thing to hear.

[@yoghurtstripper]

Although it's true that religion says that people need to "multiple" well something of the sort. It doesn't really mean that way. It's supposed to be in the way that people who believes in the religion should make other people believe the religion as well making them "multiply" but yeah this is misunderstood greatly.

[@shutupandi]

This is the realist comment I've seen in a long time.

[@brandymoore7191]

YoghurtStripper That is flat out wrong.

[@christinayates2496]

HazelReys because he didn’t care about her. Caring about someone is putting their well being first not pumping them up with babies as if they’re a baby making machine and he remained unsympathetic to the fact she was having mental health issues. He was simply not understanding the toll and stress a pregnancy does to the mind and body

[@rebeccaho1203]

I'm disappointed and slightly terrified that so many people in the comments believe that mental illness is not real and think that this video was idiotic.

[@OwnYourDance]

+Rebecca Ho I know right...

[@Tanishqgupta1998]

Seriously.

[@mandypandy111ify]

+Rebecca Ho I'm pissed off by this and also scared, because people who don't believe in mental illness are the reason it doesn't get treated.

[@rebeccaho1203]

Vriska Serket I agree. I just wish they would see it as a bigger problem than it is right now,

[@mandypandy111ify]

Rebecca Ho So do I.

[@xxlolobeautyxx]

If they knew she was that sick... She tried to kill herself twice and was still aloud to live with her kids?

[@cherrycola3604]

exactly

[@megalyssa]

As someone with depression, not only do you NOT want to put the burden on other people, not only are you so caught up in your own pain and suffering, but you may not realize just how sick you are. I know I've been to the point where I didn't leave my house for months and I still didn't ask for help and I didn't think I was depressed.

[@ieatgold]

+Hannah Rutledge She didn't suffer from just depression, she suffered from PPD and psychosis too. Not really sure where you got the idea she was solely depressed.

[@ieatgold]

+Hannah Rutledge Aside from the thing where everyone's mental illness ranges in severity pretty widely.

[@juliabrodeur7519]

+Mofutans my thoughts exactly. then again, depression is something a lot of people don't fully comprehend, yet use too often.

[@junejunejuniejune]

This cut out a lot of points in her story. Basically her ex husband (Rusty Yates) felt a great deal of sympathy for Andrea because a lot of it was his fault. Her mental illness was always there, he was aware of this. They were deeply religious and followed a very cult like figure (Michael Woroniecki). She was pressured to keep having children, and Woronieki told the family that they needed to give up their luxuries and live in a tiny R.V. Imagine day and night, living in a tiny R.V. With 4 little boys. Who would not go insane from that!?! It was around that time she tried to kill herself, was self-harming. Eventually they seeker help, and her parents told them they needed to move out of the tiny R.V. But it was really too late, she was stressed and depressed, and suicidal, and then became pregnant again! There's a lot of components that went into making her a sick women that are not mentioned here, but the point is she was sick, she needed help, but her anguish was neglected, her husband put her in many bad situations, her religious leader told her the sick things that caused her skewed mind to want to murder her babies. She was a victim of circumstance, and those children are as well.

[@TaelurAlexis]

junejunejuniejune pause. Don't blame him when she was the one who found the cult leaders and she was a grown person capable of making her own decisions when they first started dating. She was always possessed by religion.

[@janedoe3648]

People aren't just total victims, they bear real responsibility for their actions. We can have compassion but what she did was profoundly evil. Anyway we can't know if it's postpartum issues if she already had long-standing mental illness, but it was probably exacerbated by it

[@justsomestranger4894]

​@@TaelurAlexis You do know what psychosis is, right?

[@melindasmith3713]

Thanks I never heard all that .

[@moneylover445]

my mom had it and commited suicide when i was 5

[@janaedanyiel]

Im so sorry for your lost

[@DivineAscendedSoul333]

feel hugged dear...really sorry for the loss..

[@hannahfaye6297]

Hang in there, I feel so bad

[@mythicalphanstylinson6474]

Im so sorry

[@grace-ew2ny]

im so sorry :(

[@abidoherty4210]

here's the thing though... this woman clearly had strong metal disabilities and that and technically in her mind she was protecting her children... however...i do believe if she were to be realesed people would torment her for doing the things she did meaning she would simply just be diagnosef again...

[@873jt]

True

[@bugs12362]

And she would be able to get a job she wouldn't be able to do anything really. And be left being kicked around and stared at by jerks

[@YellawayHD]

+Kendall Dohmann SHE KILLED HER 5 KIDS

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

+YellawayHD Because she was very sick she didn't just go and say hmm I'm bored I wonder what happens when kids heads are held underwater. She thought she was doing the right thing. It's a horrible event but if she was ever released and clear brained she wouldn't have the same response

[@paulnuc3192]

+Bearlee Survivin that's 100% true

[@winterify]

I'd say she is both victim and villain. victim because she was let down by the mental health system Which turned her into the victim.

[@angiecruz4432]

+Kristatata Is Here :D I think they meant to say was that after being the victim of the mental health system, it turned her into a villain

[@funkygothpossum3964]

I love Kit Kats a lot she wasn't let down by the mental health system it was her husband that stopped her doctors from giving her any medication that would help her mental state so don't blame the mental health system blame her husband

[@Puttont]

Sophie Meier If doctors want to prescribe you something they can, regardless of the husband. They could have sectioned her.

[@allyb3510]

Sophie Meier mental health care in America is a laughing stalk.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Sophie Meier that is no the case he took her to hospitals admitted her got her medicine and they kept taking her off or releasing her

[@chikitageorgison1815]

Ok this is really sad and dark but, can we all just take a second and appreciate her drawing skills?

[@Charlie-yv3ib]

Omg yes actually though

[@vanillapod1649]

lol yeah

[@Atom2801]

Chris Benoit

[@cj-kx4tj]

Meh

[@sorensolstice9595]

+Jordan Shalhoub They really are impressive. The way you used Charcoal was astounding.

[@ianleamy7790]

I sympathize with her for sure but I don't think anyone who killed 5 people should be allowed to leave an institution ever

[@kearihayes5958]

I agree as well. Like I get that she had/has a mental illness and that she couldn't help it, but that is just unacceptable.

[@lolalynch7533]

I completely agree

[@alanilagoa8407]

Ian Leamy YES thank you.

[@thecrap17yearsago35]

I disagree she should be let out after over a decade in mental institutions and with Therapists saying she's mentally fit for the real world

[@vladdytheinstagrambaddie8879]

TheCrap no she shouldn't or else it will create a cycle but however I agree she should be given treatment

[@Skyomatapia]

The amount of ignorance in this comment section is horrendous. Mental Illness is real so have some sympathy and empathy. Under psychosis, you are not yourself and reality is skewed so you do things that you would not normally do and see and/or hear things that are not there. At the time, she did not know what she was doing (as she was not lucid). Based on some of your reactions, is it any wonder why some people do not seek the help that they need? They end up harming others and themselves which sadly, perpetuates the idea that mental illness is bad. Let's end the stigma so people can be empowered to seek help. It only becomes real when it happens to you.

[@annahiltion9745]

+Skyomatapia

[@joanesunzu3087]

+Skyomatapia HAHAHAHA SO IF I HAVE PSYCHOSIS I SHOULD BE ABLE TO KILL ANYONE I WANT W/O REPERCUSSION???? IT'S NOT ME AFTER ALL

[@Skyomatapia]

Joanes Unzu When did I say there were to be no repercussions? The consequence should be that the person is hospitalized and treated until they are lucid enough to be integrated into society. I mean did you even watch the video?

[@ieatgold]

+Skyomatapia The entire problem aside from her mental illness, was that she was denied and refused any kind of help, and she only received it after the crime was committed. which is horrendous on it's own. her doctor knew fully well that she was in no condition to be at home, let alone taking care of children. but nope, go home! which is sadly still happening.

[@Skyomatapia]

Joanes Unzu You seem ignorant. The patients are not just in a "comfy hospital". They are treated with medication and psychotherapy.

[@anissa6790]

Its not black or white, villain or victim. She's both, she's a victim who was lead to make a terrible decision, causing her to be a villain.

[@onlyhuman5669]

Most villains are usually victims.

[@UrDadBroughtMilk]

@@onlyhuman5669 ...

[@prestantiousunicorns750]

I am really conflicted. She survived such a horrible disorder, but she killed 5 children.

[@andiesilly12]

She's a murderer, that's it. Her illness doesn't change that.

[@themumblingdumpling2838]

...you sound like a person who has no clue how mental ilnesses work. A severe mental ilness can send the patent into fits of rage or other strange behaviour, which they either can't remember or can't believe they did it after they come to their senses. Schizophrenia works like that, among other things.

[@yoghurtstripper]

and she obviously regrets that but in her mind at the time she saved them. Well the dad who made her stop going for check ups (or something like that) and made her bear more child because of religious belief were a huge part of why her mental illness became severe enough for her to murder her own children.

[@314fearless]

True, but didn't she say that she remembered doing it and had it all planned out? She knew that it was wrong too. She said so when they interviewed her. She was fully aware of her actions.

[@revolrtol]

+Olivia Deering no, she said she knew others would consider her actions as bad but when she didn't feel like what she was doing was terrible

[@rawrsophiex]

In the video they say she's a "post partum depression survivor" no. She's not a survivor. She did not survive. That's just disrespectful to all the women who have had post partum depression and got through it without doing something like, oh, I don't know.. Murdering their children. This lady did not survive, she was consumed by it and her other illnesses.

[@cristinaaros9719]

she's a survivor because she's alive despite trying to commit suicide, an attempt that was the result of the depression caused by a chemical imbalance in her body/brain. that imbalance was caused by the change of hormones she experienced through her pregnancy and after. depression changes the way people perceive and understand the world.

[@rebeccabyers4844]

I think the narrator was talking about herself being a survived not the lady

[@yeezuschrist420]

She did survive suicide twice so yeah kinda she is

[@stinkycheese804]

She didn't have postpartum depression so your point is irrelevant. However, despite doing a terrible thing that will leave her in a twisted mental state for a Very Long Time, where she NEEDs psychiatric care, and were society NEEDs to know that people don't get away with this sort of thing, after you get past all that, she is in fact a survivor of the terrible life that her despicable husband put her through. He shares a very large part of the blame in what happened, even if we ultimately have to conclude that she can't both adhere to the religious burdens of her life and simultaneously kill which goes against that. The main thing to take away from this is do not suffer alone. Seek help and I don't mean a psychiatrist and medication (which often just makes things worse due to less ability to deal with an already overwhelming situation), rather see yourself as human and have the self respect to not let others take advantage of you. Life should never be about living for someone else's happiness at the expense of your own, putting aside the obvious chore of raising a MANAGEABLE number of children in a good environment rather than one controlled by a religious nutjob husband. You might say she survived her husband.

[@MsMondaymornings]

I live in Texas where the trial was held. It's true that Texas in one of the worst states in terms of treating mental illness (funding-wise). However, Russell Yates wanted Andrea to gain back her independence and that's why he started to leave a one hour gap before his mom would come to help Andrea out with the kids. Do I think the system failed Andrea? No, I don't. Her psychiatrist told them repeatedly, please don't have any more children, you'll only get worse. Russell and Andrea wanted as many "babies as nature allowed". Obviously Russell valued that over his wife's mental health. This was avoidable.

[@thecrap17yearsago35]

Wow

[@aubrychendoraleighton3515]

Amen.

[@dawniestar]

In my psychology class, we actually discussed how her husband was very religious and wanted her off of her meds so they could have more kids. We talked about how the husband actually played a huge role in the mental health of Andrea and not keeping her and the children safe.

[@elliethorpe3853]

I completely understand why so many people think she is a horrendous person, I mean she murdered 5 innocent children, in any case that is horrifying. However, she had psychosis. And psychosis, IMO, is very different to any other mental illness. It is next level dangerous. I have two mental illnesses and they are bad enough and I wouldn't wish them upon my worst enemy but I cannot even comprehend the seriousness and the absolutely life threatening illness that is psychosis. Pretty much all mental illnesses are life threatening but psychosis basically where your entire existence and reality as a whole is completely distorted. You hallucinate dreadful images, you hear terrifying things, you think everything and everyone around you is out to get you and your family and you cannot possibly think straight. Obviously I'm no expert but I think it's virtually impossible to think clearly whilst diagnosed with psychosis. I mean it's essentially madness. Nothing is clear and nothing is good. Everything is distorted and horrifying. That's why Andrea Yates is partially the victim here. What she did was undoubtedly horrendous but none of us can even come close to imagining what psychosis is like and what she was exactly going through at that time unless we have gone through the exact same thing which is highly unlikely.

[@UrDadBroughtMilk]

If the man had this mental illness you would say something different -_-

[@Craigthellama]

I can't stand blanket statements like "Moms are the most selfless people on the planet." Like mothers have NEVER beaten or molested their children. -__-

[@thatoneannoyingsoprano8066]

Same, like oh my god. I can't tell you how many times I've been hit or degraded by my parents.

[@Wat0the0french0toast]

dude, most moms are. It sucks that maybe yours wasnt, but most moms are great moms. Most dads are great dads. Just because she said moms are selfless, doesnt mean she thinks dads are selfish. Why are you projecting?

[@tom11zz884]

Which is why they come up with terms like Postpartum depression, which doesn't exist btw, it is just another excuse women use when they kill.

[@aliceincrazyland6685]

+tom11zz884 uhm... no. I had postpartum depression. It is very very real.

[@tom11zz884]

Alice InCrazyLand uhm...no Bimbo.

[@mj_2484]

Speaker: "Moms are the most selfless people on the planet" Me: Nope, not my mom

[@arianasmoonlitbae572]

Facts

[@DaijaWatson]

thinking the same thing

[@bad.tokenn]

+kate jill People need to stop with the "love your mother regardless" crap. People have awful, awful, abusive, terrible mothers. Facts of life.

[@mj_2484]

bulletproofjewels Exactly you can't just summaries all mothers are kind, loving, strong women. That just makes yourself simple minded about real cruel world, there is always a good and a bad side to everything.

[@emilydolores6458]

+kate jill Even though your mum gave birth to you, she isn't automatically loving and caring. My mother is a wonderful woman but I've seen others that would shock you. As a child psychologist I've seen all kinds of cases of child abuse, surprisingly most of them were abused by their mothers. This world is a dark place...

[@MrMrNOYFB]

A part of me just feels uncomfortable that they're defending, and almost praising, a woman who killed her five children. I know that postpartum depression is real, and I'm not trying to invalidate the illness in any way, but a part of me just feels odd calling her a survivor and almost putting her on this pedestal as a hero of some sort. I feel slightly uncomfortable calling her a survivor. Sure, she could be labeled a survivor, but her children don't have the luxury of that label because she killed them. If anything, her children are the victims. She is too though, I understand that. I don't know. I'm at a moral crossroads.

[@kjacobs2004]

+Edward Kenway I love the way you put that. I too felt uncomfortable. but i completely know what they mean and agree with you.

[@consvmingimpvlse2357]

In her mind, she was only trying to save her kids from more harm. She does think she is a hero and that her kids went to a better place, not putting them in harms way.

[@inmywalk]

I don't think they're putting her on a pedestal, but acknowledging the fact that she had an illness, that the death of her children could have been prevented and that she is both a victim and offender

[@thewalkingmia2451]

You actually just summed up everything I felt this whole video. Thank you.

[@makedaxs]

Same exact way I feel!

[@jennifergustafsson3384]

if you read into the story of Andrea Yates you would know that her Husband was a very religious man. He believed that kids was a god's blessing which is why she didnt use any birth control cause she was influenced by him. Her doctors did recomend that she should not have anymore children but her Husband insisted. Thats why she had so many kids. Her mental health got progressingly worse after each child. She didnt just get this unhealthy after one child.

[@lisa863uknowme]

No I don't think she should be free. It's to risky and the real world is very different from a controlled hospital. We know what she is capable of off meds. Would we let a child molester free because his meds made him not molest children and he's sick to no fault of his own? No. I feel for her I do, but her and her husband are not very bright unfortunately, she is easily influenced and religious.

[@MayAllYourStarsAlign]

Child molesters don't have mental illnesses and don't take medication to stop them from doing what they did though. Millions of people live outside in the real world while suffering from their mental illnesses but have outpatient treatments, take medications, and other alternatives that are healthy to live in society. I'm not saying she should live in society, but don't think that people can't be functional just because they're mentally ill.

[@MayAllYourStarsAlign]

MaiCohWolf I personally believe you have to have an mental illness to be attracted to children and even worse to act upon that attraction.

[@MaiCohWolf]

GirlBlog I think you're right, but don't think the desire to molest children is a unique illness. I think it's most likely a twisted expression of some other illness like psychopathy or a mental illness that causes people to desire control or manipulate others in vicious ways. I think at some point there's a decision that's made to attack or harm children (or anyone) and that's what makes the monster, not the fact that they have a mental illness.

[@MayAllYourStarsAlign]

MaiCohWolf But I can't help but wonder if there is an illness with it because you can't really help who you are attracted too and something causes these people to be attracted to children. It's a very disturbing thing that I think we should do more extensive research to understand. What I find so disturbing is that in other countries 40 year old men are aloud to take a child away from a family and marry her the minute she starts her period which can be as young as 8-12 years old... Those kind of people think it's normal culturally. It is so confusing and very disturbing to think that men actually find children attractive and women too. I just think there has to be something psychologically wrong with them and I feel sorrow that their minds are altered that way. My brother was 15 when he molested 3 kids under the age of 7. They were all boys. My brother was always attracted to girls growing up and obsessed over them when he was 10-12 but all of a sudden he did this disgusting thing. He suffers from bipolar disorder, ADD, ADHD, and several other things and takes psycho medication that is meant to be for a grown adult male and he has serious behavior issues. I just wonder what made him the way he is. Genetics? My family has a history of mental illness but never molestation or anything like that. My brother was never molested as a child either. It just happens sometimes and I want to help those people that have this odd attraction because I do see it as an illness

[@MaiCohWolf]

GirlBlog Well, its a good thing there are people like you in the world who are devoted to learning more about mental illness and ways to treat it. I don't think I could forgive someone who was willing to harm or violate people in such a way - especially children. I just get concerned that people will start trying to justify things like molestation, with ideas like "It's not really my fault because I have a mental illness, so I don't deserve to be punished." Because the kids and adults who are abused and molested often develop mental illnesses of their own as a result of such horrific experiences. But I guess there won't be a way to help the situation unless there's someone out there willing to do the research and determine ways to resolve it.

[@elianaevans4367]

a lot of people are complaining about the speakers voice but I think it's fine?

[@cherrycola3604]

same

[@cas4040]

Her voice has that tone, but it doesn't make her disingenuous. That's something we've been programmed to stereotype onto people.

[@Meccarox]

+cas4040 exactly

[@sistersofthecure2053]

Same

[@rebeccagonzales5330]

+Eliana Evans & theres 2 narrators talking not just one

[@unholychunk]

"The mental health system failed my family" even tho you continued to have kids with your wife after she got postpartum, took her off her meds and refused to bring her back to the hospital and left her home alone with the kids. The father failed his family.

[@darfi6185]

lol right his actions were probably the biggest factors than anything else

[@unholychunk]

He was told never to leave his kids alone with her. He did. She drowned them. It's his fault.

[@dinosluvties]

+unholychunk this whole story is messed up with so many flaws and possible preventions. And while she was the victim of her Mental illness, it's not like she didn't murder her kids. We can't let people off the hook because of their ailments. Yes, we can give them wiggle room because she did have issues and needed help that wasn't given to her, but it doesn't change the fact

[@laurenfontaine6310]

Yes, mental illness are horrible and I thank God everyday that I don't have one, but if you do something damaging to others because of your illness you should not be burned to the stake or something but you should be in a place that is both safe for you and everyone else. I don't see her as a hero nor a villain.

[@princessjuleit]

Agreed, but she's better now so there's no point in keeping her in hospital

[@hannahwalker5871]

+iceteaaddict but is she ready for the real world? has she adapted to the hospital living which has possibly made her better so if they took her out would she become worse again?

[@princessjuleit]

I'll leave that up to her doctors to decide

[@lisa863uknowme]

+iceteaaddict r u dense? Lets just let all the sexual predators go because their meds are working , or let all the insane people go who are sane because they are forced to take meds and in a controlled environment. It's called and episode or break bcuz it comes and goes. Do we really need that kinda risk? No

[@chrissiavictors6655]

But she would be safe out of a mental institution. She has BPD, but so do plenty of people that lead perfectly normal lives. She is perfectly capable of living outside of an institution, but she is still trapped.

[@annemadden7920]

"20% of mom's don't hurt their babies" What

[@iqraakhtar6217]

Watching this person draw was really satisfying idk

[@alexappelbe9575]

I thought I was alone on that XD

[@lilicg7]

Hah i did too

[@emilyprentiss7888]

+iqraisnotcool just about to say that lmao

[@emansandude]

very sad story... BUT what's up with this chicks vocal fry?? basic valley girl..

[@elizabethz2120]

TRUEEE

[@NossyLoves]

+emansandude That's just the way she talks, it's her voice and an *accent*. Judging someone on how they speak is rude, and a very "basic" thing to do. Can't believe how many people thumbed you up. =/

[@rosamaldonado124]

+MissNossy it's actually something that is concerning linguists because they think it may have negative affects on your vocal chords. Here in Southern California most everyone talks like that, even me (o try to stop myself when I notice it) I've also noticed that it's very easy for outsiders or new residents to pick it up lol

[@NossyLoves]

Knipp Udd I disagree; she sounds fine. If your comment was demonstrating how to be "taken seriously" as a daft and unpleasant person, well done. :)

[@gknip0]

MissNossy girl.. calling me daft and unpleasant won't make that accent sound any less idiotic or ignorant. But if you feel better that way, go ahead, call me whatever you like. I'd still strongly encourage you to lose that accent. For your own good.

[@MadDirectionerGirl]

She was on Deadly Women. It's a show on Netflix, it has some really interesting murder cases, if you're into that kind of thing. This really is tragic though. And so, so preventable. She should have really been sectioned under the Mental Health Act*, until such a time came that proved she was no longer a danger to herself or others. *: I realise that I'm talking about this case from a British point of view, but I assume America has something similar.

[@sup4744]

That’s the thing. Not only did she do everything in her power(warning people, doctors, and authority) but those same people who diagnosed her with psychosis, knows they took her off her meds, and know she attempted suicide 2 times did nothing in their power I remember that episode of Deadliest Women. The other woman in that same episode also killed her kids. Only she did it because she was mad at them for breaking her up with her boyfriend or whatever something heartless Yates did it because she thought Satan was tormenting them.

[@jakalukabek3997]

It's also on investigation discovery ID

[@Puttont]

Maddy Gowers I LOVE Deadly Women!

[@isaymamamoo9469]

@@sup4744 that's so sad :(

[@OMGXLOVER]

this story makes me think of the movie shutter island

[@kirastemmet2282]

yasssssssss!

[@novadaisy3208]

that's exactly what I was thinking!

[@SilentMenace7251]

Facts

[@rumpsugg]

You have a nice face

[@OMGXLOVER]

rumpsugg haha thank you!

[@krabby2010]

okay, I understand the implication of this video, but I wouldn't go as far as calling Ms. Yates a survivor.

[@AtOutoftheBlue]

Yeah, survivor implicates that you got help before you harmed anyone

[@JeanneLikesFood]

+Lindsey Meyers I think the speaker was saying that she was a survivor. And she has sympathy for Ms. Yates because of that. Since she knows what it's like to go through it.

[@Daisy-jh9sc]

+AtOutoftheBlue Survivor only implicates that she overcame something, got over it and survived.

[@lisa863uknowme]

Getting on meds, taking her meds, and putting the right things in place would make her a survivor. She knew the kinda thoughts she was having and risked having another child. Her and her husband are not smart people

[@Hannah-zw9ow]

+Crazy World did you not watch the video? Her doctor refused to put her on medication. And, what isn't mentioned in the video, is her and her doctor knew that having more kids was a bad idea, but because the husband was deeply religious, he forced her to. Don't blame her for what she clearly tried to correct.

[@m.bellelove7397]

I don't understand why she should be released if she killed her five kids??? I understand it was a mental illness but she still took five lives.

[@francesxx72]

Yea I agree

[@trollking385]

Yeah, she took her lives of her five kids because of mental illness if she had gotten the help she needed it wouldn’t have happened

[@trollking385]

Don’t think people really understand what mental illness is and how it affects people and the people around or the people who say mental illness is fake, not real

[@callmemars2552]

I actually heard a lecture from the psychologist who treated Andrea after she killed her kids, and from Andrea's point of view she was totally justified in what she did. Her psychologist explained to us that as a mother, your number one concern is making sure your children are safe, and Andrea truly believed her children were being tormented by Satan and Devils, and the only way they would be safe was if they had died. In her mind, it made perfect sense. To society as a whole, however, it is seen as immoral and horrific. I never stop thinking about that lecture and that realization that the mind doesn't work in black and white like I thought it had prior to the lecture.

[@anonymous-yq4wc]

And that's exactly why she's should not be set free.

[@drakedrones]

And from where did her brain conjure about her kids being tormented by devil and satan? It sure comes from her brainwashed mind.

[@janedoe3648]

She has a conscience like everyone else and she knows as well as the next person murder is wrong.

[@victoriat7716]

Illness or not, murder is murder. I'm not saying she wasn't a victim to her disease because she was and for that I truly feel for her but as far as the murders, inexcusable. They say "sometimes mothers have to be selfish" by drowning YOUR five innocent children??? no, that's something a monster would do. She might have only done it because she was sick and that's unfortunate and sad but she's still a murderer. A lot of murderers are sick in the head but you don't see anyone trying to excuse the evil they've done. Just my opinion, hope I didn't offend anyone

[@michellemadison2539]

I don't think they meant it was her being selfish to kill her kids I think they meant that most moms forget meant all healthand need to be aware of it

[@May04bwu]

Yep, not many people defend killers or sexual offenders. Strange..

[@toxicsharpievevo8880]

Victoria Torres a murder is killing with malicious intent. She didn't have that

[@May04bwu]

Every person, who kills, has some kind of psychological issue, because it's not natural and doesn't make sense for us to kill without reason. It's not beneficial for us. Murderers and offenders have either mental illness or personality disorder or both.

[@k-9907]

ToxicSharpie VEVO Murder 1.the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

[@alienpeppers]

What she did was wrong and cruel, but she was mentally ill. I think she was the victim because she was mentally ill, which led her to be the villain. But that's just my way of seeing this.

[@crazyeights457]

I believe she was the victim, and the villain. Anyone that could have helped her didn't, and due to her mental illnesses and such she ended up doing horrific things, which made her both a villain and a victim. Truly sad story, though.

[@verarb2001]

I think she, but as well as her kids and husband are/were victim of this.

[@sarahswati8768]

That exactly how I see it! And also from what I've heard her husband was extremely religious and kept insisting that they have more kids which would obviously make her illness much worse.

[@vladdytheinstagrambaddie8879]

Sarah Swati exactly.I know you commented this over a year ago but I agree

[@carolinab2543]

Watching this on my bed in foster care after my mom drove me deeper and deeper into depression and even laughed at my suicide attempts saying that I was embarrassing her and even now that I no longer live with her still puts the blame on me. Not every mother is an angel and sometimes being too selfish is not the right decision for your child.

[@natiikdc1312]

Exactly same situation.

[@dakotahope599]

im so sorry to hear that, and i hope things are getting better for you xx.

[@dakotahope599]

and yes, i completely agree. ☆

[@UrDadBroughtMilk]

Ur mom don't deserve you... You deserve happiness and positivity

[@RollerFoxx]

Postpartum mental illness is nothing short of horrible. Especially when it's postpartum psychosis. My best friend had a really bad case of it.She friend had one child already and is the most amazing mother. After her second though she just shut down. Everyone gave her a lot of grief over it, her husband didn't understand. Her older daughter needed mommy because she was 5, her new daughter needed her because she had wanted to breast feed and it was just a disaster. Her family has a very "hush-hush psychiatry is a quack practice" kind of mentality. Her husband didn't want to stay home with her and completely ignored me when I demanded we get her help. I mentioned this case and how everyone had failed this woman and because of it they lost a wife and a mother and 5 beautiful children. "It won't happen to her. She'll be fine. She just needs to try harder." A few days later I got a screaming call from her 5 year old (thank you,smart phones with photo contact short cuts) begging me to come over right now. I walked in to find my friend dangling the crying baby over the balcony completely zoned out. I called my sister, dropped my 2 kids off with her as well as my friend's 2 girls and dragged her to the ER. Her baby is 1 now and they're all happy and fine but I still call multiple times throughout the day to check on her. Postpartum mental illnesses can appear within 2 years after giving birth. See your doctor. If you're feeling blue or think someone close to you is, your doctor will not think you're stupid. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[@nailachoudhury3795]

And then what happened?

[@hly1226]

You're a good friend. :-)

[@TwistedFictions]

I NEED CLOSURE

[@paulaolid]

Wow, I wish I had at least a friend like you.

[@niktusiakle8376]

What happened?

[@angelinamallett208]

everyone is complaining about her voice fry and I didn't even notice it until i read the comments lol

[@monhoj8778]

+indigetis ut vos scitis same. she has a really nice voice.

[@Beautifully_Broken]

So glad there are still SOME good people left in this world! I found it such a 'Troll' move to only discuss the narrators voice, instead of the real issues! Thank you for restoring a lil bit of my faith in humanity. Kudos! (I, also, enjoyed her voice/narration!)

[@fightthefairy]

You can’t miss it! Why is it like that?

[@fightthefairy]

Eringw1979 Yet this person only mentioned the narrator’s voice... 😕

[@Beautifully_Broken]

TwistedBarbie you might want to scroll through the comment section, BEFORE you write a 'Troll-like' comment! And, once again, the only thing that is discussed is the narrators voice! Get your priorities in check, 'Twisted Barbie'! (Why am I NOT surprised by your screen name choice.....? Lmao

[@idontreallyknowlol]

The mind is a crazy thing. I never thought of her as a victim until this video.

[@Faythe98]

I agree it was entirely preventable, they knew she was incredibly sick and the doctors did nothing. I've seen the mental health system fail so many people, its horrifying.

[@sweetieboo991]

+BeatNeko3 i agree. i feel sick after reading some of the comments. the public does not take mentall illnesses seriously and it seems even the people in the mental health system don't either. i compare some mental illnesses to cancer. They both occur at any time, cause so much pain to not only the person with it but family members. the difference is that cancer is treated seriously. the doctor took her off the medication because of side effects. what about the side effects of radiation for cancer. i kills most living cells in your body yet cancer patients are still given it.

[@alexisoelberg7448]

what I wanna know is why did she keep having kids? if her illness was that bad towards her kids, why would anyone let her keep having them?

[@LovvinLifeeMiyaa]

Alexis Oelberg A lot of women try to suppress their illness and make it seem like a minor ordeal. She didn't get any help and back then, mental illness was not a common topic of discussion.

[@natalieibarra1331]

Alexis Oelberg her husband was incredibly religious and insisted she kept having children despite her illness

[@iSkeleton]

You really need to watch a documentary called, "A Mother's Madness: Andrea Yates" This buzzfeed video doesn't even skim the surface of the many issues Andrea had.

[@alexisoelberg7448]

These all make a lot of sense, I didn't even think about the husband. Thanks guys!

[@DD-jr3mq]

ikr, she went to the doctor and had prescribed drugs, if a person is not in good mental or physical shape, then they are unfit to have kis

[@mejaden862]

It pisses me off that all that was preventable and if the doctors would have taken the necessary precautions and taken her mental health more seriously and even taught her husband on how to handle this situation, then the kids wouldn't have died and the family would have lived great lives. That doctor should feel like the murders are on his hands.

[@MsChifran]

+LarryShipper The doctors warned the husband multiple times. The husband is the one who pushed his wife into having more children because of his faith and religion. The doctors gave her the medication she needed. Doctors treat so many people, some fall through the cracks and the blood shouldn't be on their hands. How about social carers? Why didn't they take the children away? Why didn't the husband stop letting her have children and not leave her alone with them?

[@ledzepgirl92]

I didnt even know that about her husband yet, and it gives another site to the story, spousal abuse was most likely involved as it seems. being forced to bear children is traumatic and the idea of living in an environment where a fundamentalist man forces you to be a baby machine and denies your care and help must be terrifying. this is in no way meant as a justification for her deeds, but meant to show none of this tragedy had to happen, ever.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Amen I no longer use this account finally someone gets it it was about the money to these facilities and Dr's

[@georgem2334]

Congrats BuzzFeed, this is your best video ever.

[@ninomorelliguitar2247]

ikr please do more of these☺

[@worldwidehandsome240]

Why did she continue having children Five children Seriously?

[@beautyjunkiee13]

Nikita Roza her husband was religious and wanted more children

[@rubengbukets4730]

Nikita Roza pullout game weak

[@fartexpertable]

Nikita Roza they were a wealthy Protestant family that believed they should be having kids until god is willing to give them

[@Gucciacid]

Yasper Madmoon untrue her husband kept forcing her to have children then got upset when she did what she did

[@iSkeleton]

You really need to watch a documentary called, "A Mother's Madness: Andrea Yates" This buzzfeed video doesn't even skim the surface of the many issues Andrea had.

[@000snowy]

A Woman who lived 10 minutes from me shockingly did the same thing. She had 3 babies, and drowned them in the bathtub

[@leyre9989]

A woman in my neighborhood did something similar, she mixed her pills with the kids breakfast. Two died from overdose and one survived. Apparently she thought that she was helping her kids cause she was suffering from depression and didn't want them to live in such a horrible world

[@randomuploadsism]

have you not heard of postpartum depression?

[@shawn576]

No but I've heard of murderer's remorse. Are the two similar in any way?

[@anonymous-yq4wc]

And people who are justifying this by mentioning ppd they should realise that it's still a crime. They got ppd bcz they can't bear the responsibility of motherhood anymore and so it probably affects their brain and ultimately they kill the cause of their stress

[@melindasmith3713]

​@anonymous-yqperhaps 4wc

[@ivyfloyd275]

It bothers me that if it was a male who did this crime he would be considered a monster for the rest of his life

[@ivyfloyd275]

You just made it sexist by pointing out that a male wouldn't be able to stay at home with the children. It's very true it is very rare that they look into a males mental condition after a murder.

[@ashrivera8432]

but the mental condition was directly caused by the children being born, and they were completely aware of this condition but instead decided to ignore it, and forced her into the stay at home mother role while she was clearly unable to, and ended up killing the children, so this wouldn't happen to a man in this specific way

[@redken3919]

+indigetis ut cos scitis You don't know that, they might be a stay-at-home dad, that exists you know.

[@tom11zz884]

***** Trust me, a man would still be treated differently by the press, public opinion , and in the courts..

[@alexbuckley4011]

Men dont get postpardum mental illnesses like women do. It's not the same.

[@emmapedersen1221]

I don't understand why people feel bad for her. She is a monster. She should never be near children again.

[@mexikunt]

I don't think you understand mental illness.

[@ieatgold]

Maybe you should educate yourself a little over the mental illness she had, she was literally refused help by her doctor who KNEW she was in no shape to be taking care of her children. HE REFUSED TO LET HER GET HELP. I honestly don't know how people cannot get it through their heads how psychosis works and what it does to a perosn.

[@epiccarrot88]

+Emma Tell me this; someone's mind is controlled to the point in which they can't make free choices anymore. While mind controlled they're forced to kill their children. Is that person a monster?If you say no then why are you judging people with mental illnesses?

[@Lord_Cow]

+epiccarrot88 because she killed 5 children that's why I'm judging her

[@alldabsmatter2500]

+epiccarrot88 those lifes are still gone. She should stay in the hospital fo the rest of her life. She is not a monster because it wasn't entirely her fault but she should still pay for her actions.

[@hydrogen3266]

Okay, so, she's a survivor. But at what cost? Five other lives of innocent children with no wrong to the world. Her life was less valuable then theirs, not to be rude, but five is greater than one, especially when those five have a life ahead of them. She's a survivor, but her five children died because of her.

[@angellove8233]

smh so sad

[@princessjuleit]

What made her less valuable than her children? That she was ill? That's not her fault. And yes I understand that 5 lives were lost but that's in the past, this woman is better now so do you want another live to be lost stuck in a hospital for the rest of her life, feeling horrible that she did something beyond her control?

[@astronaut3696]

She's mentally ill she couldn't help it

[@ilikefood8075]

She had a mental illness she can’t help it she taught she had to do cause the devil would haunt her forever

[@RotisserieiJamie]

@@princessjuleit a child’s life is way more important and her life is lesser than her kids.

[@kaytraendria]

I...I'm trying so hard not to cry. But, it's impossible. My own mom suffers from Postpartum Depression from having kids at a late age, and my younger sister and I didn't know until I was maybe fifteen or sixteen, when my mom missed taking her medication and felt so bad that she just couldn't do anything; not even get out of bed. My sister and I left our mom to rest, worrying throughout that day. The next day, after mom got her medicine, she sat my sister and I down on the couch, and apologized to us for what had happened the day before, and for putting us through that. She explained that she had postpartum depression, and she explained how it made her feel. She described a time when my sister and I were still really young: she had hidden in a closet, and just cried, feeling like a failure as a mom. My sister and I told her that we didn't care that she wasn't perfect. We loved her even when she was depressed. The knowledge of the postpartum hasn't changed our lives, but my sister and I are now better prepared to deal with it, if it raises it's head again. But, we know that it can be very dangerous for our mom, so we keep an eye on her because we love her, and she deserves the best life possible because she suffered so much for me and my sister. Because of this, my sister and I love our mom all the more. If your mom, or someone you are close to suffers from postpartum depression, think about how it has shaped her life and how much the people around her love her for being so strong. I have said my piece. What is your story?

[@Paige-bj3ho]

I know depression. I have depression. But I don't feel sympathy for her. Murder is murder. She is a monster and is too dangerous to be part of our society.

[@gcan_t6814]

She had both of these really, but the more extreme is what you have to focus on. Psychosis, not depression. Psychosis- a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality. Depression- feelings of severe despondency and dejection.

[@elisabethblackwood3921]

I don't think she should be free. But I do feel sorry for her.

[@emilydolores6458]

Yes. She might be tormented by others for what she did. Others may not be as sympathetic as us...

[@elisabethblackwood3921]

+Emily Brunt- Marks Also that she killed 5 people.

[@emilydolores6458]

+Elisabeth Blackwood Yeah, she might kill more or just attempt suicide again.

[@electricreverie157]

+Emily Brunt- Marks She no longer has postpartum psychosis so she wouldn't be out there killing people. The psychosis isn't long term.

[@ethanjerauld9488]

+Electric Reverie but as it said, she had it and it went away but came back so what's to say it wouldn't come back again?

[@worldwidehandsome240]

Also she's not a survivor, I understand her condition and realize that treatment could have prevented this tragedy but she still killed five children. Since she had a history of depression why did she continue having children? Was her husband forcing her?

[@jewel2318]

Her husband insisted they go through with having children despite her doctor's advice, so basically, yeah.

[@yms4355]

Julia links, please! :>

[@MakerBayfield]

Nikita Roza you cant understand her condition and what she went through

[@HeartOnHerStrings]

The lady said she did it to protect her children from Satan's torment. So even though she killed them, she loved them and wanted to protect them. Her psychosis was too deep and too strong for her to see she was actually hurting them. Just because she has postpartum depression doesn't mean she didn't want children nor does it mean she didn't love her children.

[@thatgirl4109]

she killed her kids, yet "she should be free.." hee kids don't get to be free. they didn't get to grow up.

[@goodygowild]

Agreed, the kids are gone because of her. I don't think she should be free...

[@karynahpena8618]

you obviously don't get murder.

[@celestec62]

+indigetis ut vos scitis so she should be let free?

[@sitcommunism]

no those kids dont get to grow up because their mother was suffering with untreated psychosis. 'a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality'. this is an extremely complex situation and that argument is reductive, it doesn't take all of the factors at play into account. this woman was not herself at this time and has had to spend the time since her recovery dealing with what she has done, this is a woman who has lost everything, why would you wish more ill on her?

[@therealkenj98]

That Girl so you blame her for her own mental state? While not blaming the system that failed her? Hmmmm okay.

[@InternetFad]

Thank you for advocating for those who can't always do that for themselves. Thank you Buzzfeed.

[@Sarahnessoyeah]

I didn't even notice her voice until I read the comments. Thanks guys. Glad that's the only thing you took from this video

[@kaityp6764]

i don't care how many mental illnesses she has she's still a psychopath,how can you look into someone's eyes who has killed all of their children and not call her a monster.

[@ariettalola2]

Well if you think like that maybe you are the monster

[@kaityp6764]

Aριεττα Βαρια yeah im the monster compared to someone that has killed her childeren

[@secretlyobsessed9656]

I agree I don't care how depressed you are that gives you no reason to kill you children.

[@secretlyobsessed9656]

+Secretly Obsessed *your

[@kaityp6764]

thank you

[@oliviagale4534]

murder is murder no matter what. If this is what people with mental illnesses as severe as hers do, then they should be locked up. It's not to punish them for what they can't help, it's to help keep innocent people alive and well. I'm sorry but she took 5 lives, and there's no excuse for that. It's very sad that she was so ill but the repercussions are even sadder. She was a villain in my opinion. I wish absolutely no harm to her however, but i don't believe anyone who has ever even seriously contemplated killing their children should be walking around the streets. just my opinion. i hope i didn't offend anyone. (also don't say i don't understand mental illness, bc i do. I have PTSD and was hospitalized 8 months for suicide attempts. However, it never once crossed my mind to hurt anybody else, EVER)

[@kb3196]

Amen!

[@ChristophProbst]

I don't think anyone here is saying that she should have been freed to walk the street. The question is if she should be in a mental facility or a jail, and clearly it is the former.

[@jadaliu6264]

I kind of agree

[@suzieluzy12]

She has control of herself now, she is aware of what she has done. It's not about keeping mentally ill people "locked up" for others safety, it's about changing the system to prevent any of that to happen. These people can't be put away before knowing they are going to be a danger to others or themselves. I believe she should be free to go and start living a normal life, it's unfair that she is still there.

[@LESTR97]

The insane dont just go free. They get locked up in a mental institution, where they spend the rest of their lives unless they become sane, which is almost impossible.

[@princessknight8557]

watching this as an alternative for buzzfeed unsolved

[@snowy.ethereal]

She had a mental illness. Doctors knew she was very mentally ill and still allowed her to have the children. If someone helped her, those children would still be alive in the custody of their father. What she did was very wrong, but she was completely let down by the mental health system. If she got the help she needed so badly and got that break from her children, those children would still be alive. She was dangerous to those kids, and some how, no one saw. It wasn't even her fault. She was sick. Very very sick. And she wasn't given the right care.

[@gracehammmond7718]

totally agree

[@litae72]

+Earthlove1364 I thought of the same thing too when they said she became pregnant again with those conditions :( . somebody I knew had a pospartum depression once and she had to gave her baby to be taken care of by a relative so she herself could get better.

[@milliecooper3836]

I'm really liking these new types of videos, they're so interesting!

[@wipeddouttt]

Eh I wouldn't call her a survivor by what happened with her kids.....

[@maddyjdupuis]

Sadly, this woman did something that wasn't fantastic. Her children could have lived their lives differently, and I believe her husband should have taken action and put the children somewhere safer as it really does look like she was having awful issues and shouldn't have been trusted with children. I would not call her a survivor, rather a murderer. I do not believe she should be forgiven in any way, just because of her issue doesn't make it acceptable. This really was a cruel thing to do, although I am glad that she has recovered in a somewhat positive way compared to her previous issue.

[@prime_memeister3324]

i honestly dont care what mental disorder you may have, no one that takes the life of another human for no god damn reason can possibly be a victim. people that use their mentality as an excuse for these situations dont deserve to be released from mental institutions

[@Dovewing02]

when you have psychosis you are not in touch with reality at all it is not something you can help it is a chemical thing in your brain and your brain is telling you things that are not true and you have no control over it

[@prime_memeister3324]

Leaf kitty then people like that should be in mental institutions

[@Dovewing02]

+Prime_Memeister as her husband said, their family was let down by the mental health system

[@chrissiavictors6655]

I don't think you fully understand her mental illness. She truly believed it was the right thing to do, just as you believe that pizza is good. Imagine that you wake up one day and realize that you've done something horribly wrong, but you can't fix it. You were completely out of your mind. You weren't able to do anything about it. Mental illness was not a crutch. It's what controlled her. Obviously she didn't really think that killing her kids was a good idea, but the chemical imbalances in her brain convinced her. They completely took control over her, at no fault of her own. It's incredibly sad and not a good situation no matter how it is spun.

[@prime_memeister3324]

indigetis ut vos scitis How, exactly, am I ignorant? Is it because I happen to have an opinion that doesn't agree with yours? Or is it that you need to express your opinion to gain the attention that no one ever gave you?

[@appellationsobriquet6205]

Lock her up and throw away the key.

[@libbythomlinson1656]

I understand why you say that but she's mentally ill. When she tried to commit suicide measures should of been put in place to save the children. Yes she did wrong and she does need to learn the message but she said if she didn't kill them they'd be tortured by satan. She needs helps before she can fully understand what happened and why she did it. If she's raising money for the charity then she must of learnt her lesson and I know murder is never justified but neither is leaving a seriously mentally ill mother with her children

[@eliasdemme9355]

jjjup

[@joanesunzu3087]

+Libby Thomlinson Yeah so if i tried to kill myself and didn't succed, went on a killing spree, didn't get killed and said i did it so satan wouldn't torture them I should be free right??

[@libbythomlinson1656]

+Donetta Lowe mental illness are real. Yes I see the point she killed people that's never justified but I think people higher up could of seen the threat and maybe helped the kids.

[@libbythomlinson1656]

+Joanes Unzu I'm not saying she should be free. She needs help and rehabilitation before she does her time to learn her lesson. She shouldn't be free she's too sick to be. I think I she needs proper help before being put into prison.

[@brittneyl6406]

Yes, postpartum depression played a major key in this but the key word is also psychosis. The biggest problem were her delusions and the fact that she actually believed certain things at the time such as Satan torturing her children. She also had hallucinations so I believe there was much more going on with her brain chemistry.

[@tracischmidt8593]

Chemical imbalance

[@MasterAppels]

Just because you have a mental illness doesn't mean you shouldn't be bound by the law.

[@nintando]

Well if you aren't things like this happen.

[@emmablankenship3405]

I understand where you're coming from but I don't feel comfortable putting someone in jail for something they can't control.

[@nintando]

Emma Blankenship I agree

[@whatthefawk3356]

I believe that people who can be classified as insane or psychotic don't have the same rights as people without those problems. This would mean that they would need to be treated differently by the law. However, don't take my word for it, I could be wrong.

[@rachelparthy3556]

I feel like the message isn't to excuse mentally ill people from the law, but to provide the resources and help that those people may need in order to prevent tragedies like this from happening.

[@anusisaman3086]

Please never stop making such videos please Buzzfeed!!!!

[@leonorserpas]

buzzfeed should make more videos like this! love it!

[@julzburdzel7668]

Other murderers had different mental illnesses and were never given the label as "survivor." Mental illness is a real thing, obviously, but other people could have been given the same kind of forgiveness that Andrea Yates eventually got.

[@sup4744]

Julz Burdzel Yeah that’s kinda how judgment works

[@claudettewright365]

Idk how often you’ve seen cases with a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict after a murder inflicted through psychosis, but they do happen among people of all backgrounds. It’s happened in my own family. Andrea’s story is one of thousands if you consider the entire breadth of psychotic disorders.

[@ChantayLainey]

Post Partum illness is such a serious mental illness. Its good that this video is highlighting this. A lot of women go through this and don’t even seek help. This case was extreme but I hope anyone woman experiencing this seek HELP .

[@lumi225]

why do americans speak with idk how to explain this very well but it's like a croak? the thing that sounds like a motorcycle and a frog in their throat or something..

[@denissecortes4118]

It's vocal fry, and yeah it gets annoying

[@lumi225]

Denisse Cortes thank uuu and yas haha especially when ur not used to it also noice pic btw bts are gr8 af lmao

[@padmaisonaroll8613]

Exactly!! It sounds like the grudge!! Pretty annoying! But definitely cannot generalize it to all of the Americans! 😂

[@sylvie9012]

I sound that way and I can't help it or change it. So do my sisters, it might be a genetic thing.

[@padmaisonaroll8613]

+pinkdiamondcourt oh I'm sorry I made a quick judgement! Sorry. 😔

[@danaw3499]

She's not a victim. She never will be.

[@jaylynbrielle3807]

AGREED

[@razmataz13drums]

+Dana W if its true (I know nothing of the case) that she had postpartum depression and psychosis that made her in such a state of mind that she killed her children. Imagine when you snap out of that psychosis because she got the help she needed, and then realised that she had killed her kids. Im sure she thinks she's a monster too, it was a monstrous thing to do, but yes in some ways she along with the kids is the one who's victim the most. She has to live with it

[@sunflower-nm8mf]

I totally agree! The kids wad the victims

[@razmataz13drums]

+taequila the kids don't have to be the exclusive victims. they were obviously the main victims as they didnt even get a chance at life. Doesn't mean in some way other people weren't victims too in their own way. The husband was both part victim part to blame. The mother was to blame but also part victim

[@XxCOOKEExxMONSTARxX]

according to no one she didn't "black out" she simply took her time and layed her kids on her bed

[@tomgornell4765]

This was very interesting and gave me a new perspective to think on with matters with mental health like this... good job BuzzFeed !!!

[@cottoncandyaddict]

I'm not going to have sympathy for a serial killer just because she's a mentally ill woman. There were a lot of mentally ill serial killers out there, and no one really tries to victimize them. I will say I understand that this all could have been prevented and it's very sad, but that woman is a murderer and should never be freed, especially since she could relapsed.

[@Able0the0fox]

She killed 5 innocent children and you're calling her a victim. Nothing, nothing serves as an excuse for cold blooded murder, let alone the murder of five children

[@kb3196]

Amen!!

[@Able0the0fox]

Amy Weng Doesn't matter. Still needs to serve justice

[@joannaxp]

+K B Okay, I agree with you that what she did was terrible, and she should stay in the institute. However, she was under the influence of a mental illness, and that illness played a part in this crime, and it was not a flaw in her character. It stated that she understood that others would see that this was a horrible crime, and that's true. But she herself believed that what she did was right and that she was saving her children. It does not justify what she has done, but at least try to understand that mental illness is real, and with all the horrible things that have happened to her adding up and making the illness worse, she was pushed into being a murderer.

[@joannaxp]

Amy Weng I know, I'm just saying she stay there because her illness could come back. If they were to release her, at least monitor her.

[@charleyturner7654]

She clearly wasn't mentally stable. Yes what she did was wrong and her mental illness doesn't excuse her crimes. However she was a victim of her own mind and mental instability. She dealt with a lot of very serious problems and this is an example of what happens when people are let down by the mental health system in such desperate circumstances

[@majesticgoyim6592]

Hahaha it's hilarious that labeling her as a victim is even an option

[@chloethorpe26]

She WAS a victim to mental illness.

[@majesticgoyim6592]

Hahahagagaga

[@hannahdunphy533]

I feel bad for you. You are obviously suffering from arrogance. I hope you get the help you need.

[@zebramackenzie3039]

+Chloe Thorpe its some thing like 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 people have mental health problems, and there isn't that's my mass murders, it takes much more than a mental health condition to do what she did

[@clairelouise3591]

+Zebra Mackenzie Thats what i was thinking, obviously the mental health issues were a huge part of it but theres a difference between attempting suicide and plotting until your husband is not home and individually drowning your five kids in the bath

[@ShoppingwithANG]

murder is murder , where she was Ill or not she killed those 5 innocent children those poor babies

[@ShoppingwithANG]

*whether

[@alec8182]

She was insane, but are you saying she should go to jail for not being in control of her concious? If so just leave now

[@avrilynravenee5143]

She is rightfully locked down in a mental institute. I agree that she should be jailed for murder. I also agree that she should've been given proper treatment to prevent this whole thing.

[@tigergal25]

How do you think she feels now, being of a mostly sound mind and knowing she killed her own kids

[@happypeppygirl]

Yes it is murder but that doesn't mean she should have to spend time in jail or an institution for it. She was obviously suffering and was denied the help she needed, which could have prevented her from doing such a horrible thing. That's what's so frustrating, she could have been happy and healthy and her kids could have lived.

[@katiebug7297]

she killed her 5 children. there's no excuse for that. she should not be freed, sorry but no. depression or not, murder is murder and it's just disgusting.

[@bk29929]

agreed

[@AaliyahLawww]

ok I undersatd what you think but she couldent controle it was a mentle illness and its a incrdeble rare condition

[@meredithwilcox1818]

She didn't really have control over it. She had previously tried to stop herself from doing it. She tried to kill herself so she wouldn't do it. Mental illness is a scary thing. It's a pretty valid excuse, actually. Could you imagine feeling the uncontrollable urge to kill your children. Fighting that for months. Thinking that they'll suffer a worse fate if they die now. It's not just depression. She couldn't control her thoughts. She is very sick, but she is not disgusting.

[@AaliyahLawww]

Cyberpunk Star look my keys are small and its a KZbin comment and...why does that matter to you?? Just wondering

[@bk29929]

you're a fool. justifying murder because the mental state of the perpetrator is not valid. you seem to be forgetting that the 5 dead children are the victims here, not the murderer.

[@3irikur]

Despite her sad story, she is still a security threat. I get that it feels wrong to arrest (and possibly, not in this case but in some cases execute) someone who can't control themselves but we must value our own security as well. I get that people think she should be free, but I ask you, would you be comfortable with her as your neighbor? Knowing that she has killed 5 children and is still not completely cured.

[@hannahnacamuli]

well all she has now is bipolar disorder, which can be helped with medication. i, for one, believe that she should be release and just monitored carefully.

[@3irikur]

Haptic Dribble Well I still wouldn't be comfortable around someone who has murdered anyone, no matter the reason (there might be some exceptions).

[@hannahnacamuli]

3irikur yeah i understand. tbh, i would be a little creeped out if she lived next to me, but i would make an effort to idk bake her a pie xD. my dad has some pretty bad mental issues so i'm used to stuff like this. you just gotta ignore it and look at the actual person, not the illness.

[@hannahnacamuli]

indigetis ut vos scitis could not agree more

[@hannahnacamuli]

***** she was mentally ill and had no control over it. she's fine now and thats all that matters. a 6 foot man with tattoos who willingly killed children should be executed for taking pleasure in murder. this woman is so regretful of her decisions that she's made a yates children memorial fund. dedicated to her children. you cant compare this woman to an evil man that enjoys murdering when she herself thinks its one of the biggest mistakes shes ever made, even though she had no control over it.

[@lisarivera4490]

Did this remind anyone of the short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper' ?

[@jessicar.772]

+Lisa Rivera such a good short story. but yea it kind of did remind me of that. the whole purpose of the story was made in the era of men controlling women, so it wasn't really her having mental illness, it was more about her being controlled by her husband

[@appbeljuice5160]

What's that?

[@madi101f]

The yellow wallpaper is such an amazing story.

[@YouJustGotAnimated]

It's a short story about a woman in the 1800's-1900's (fictional, but sorta based on real things) that was forced to go into a vacation home by her husband and with her husband, because she was diagnosed with depression (and doctors back then knew nothing about mental illness and were sexist). The story is told, I believe, by her writing journals about the experience and the reader assumes she's getting better, but the end it extremely creepy as she beomces psychotic: she crawls around the floor, ripping and smudging the yellow wallpaper off of the walls of her room because she's convinced that she sees women trapped inside the wallpaper and sees herself trapped in there as well, so she's trying to free them and herself.

[@YouJustGotAnimated]

Cit K Same, but I appreciate it because it gave a "progressive" opinion on how women were viewed during that time (although, I still like the story)

[@MoonCloudsMagic]

It's really upsetting that people don't view mental illness as a real problem. PHYSICAL CHANGES OCCUR IN THE BRAIN. Just because you can't see external changes doesn't mean that physical changes don't occur in the brain.... an organ we barely understand. I would say mental illness is more debilitating than physical illnesses.

[@ailuroses]

I agree with you. I'm pretty sure 99% of the people who say that she's a monster and could've just not done it, have never experienced a lifechanging mental illness. It changes the whole way of how you think about life. She had nothing to do with it, it was her mind that did it. So yes i agree with you, i think mental illnesses are 100 times worse than physical illnesses

[@jewelpingzz4999]

+Maris Murakas thank you that there are people who actually understand. mental illness is hard for people who view it from one side same thing with depression. People in the comment should be thankful they don't have mental illness or depression. Mental ilness and depression is scary i wish people understand that .

[@finnlie5324]

This is so sad.

[@parradygamers618]

phandom person here

[@helo320]

It is :/ Time to watch and phan crack video..

[@rav.n.9104]

if a man did this he would be know for the rest of forever as one of the most heartless murders in history, but when a woman did this everyone's like "oh she's a victim".

[@rav.n.9104]

known*

[@sym2988]

you're an idiot. She isn't being excused for having a vagina, but for having a mental disorder which prevents her from being able to distinguish reality from whatever nightmare her diseased brain was conjuring up for her.

[@ericfleitman9958]

Lol. Kinda true though. As sad as it is.

[@sarahgordis]

Men don't have postpartum depression because they don't give birth to babies. So... it's related to her illness.

[@ancientcanopies]

Men absolutely DO suffer from postpartum depression. It's not a direct result of giving birth most of the time, it's the complete lifestyle change.

[@inamib.9786]

This comment section lacks nuance. Yes, she is guilty and should pay for her crime but that doesn't mean she isn't also a victim. All of this could've been prevented if the system hadn't failed her and she had gotten proper care for her illness. Saying she's just a monster without trying to understand the causes only ensures that this could happen again

[@carpediem5106]

Who was narrating this? i love these types of videos. its similar to the muder stuff ryan did. Hope you guys make more!

[@anna-jr2em]

I think I know who she is but I don't remember her name! It's a lady that has been in some vids!

[@MiSSiABLET]

She's in a lot of the mother videos

[@ihavenoideawhatimdoingwith5697]

+Teejay Moore I don't know who was narrating, but I think it was Jordan who was asking the questions.

[@MiSSiABLET]

... her name is Morgan XD

[@Oorrgix]

sounds like the blonde one chelsea or something

[@AtOutoftheBlue]

People never really understood the role that her husband had in the murders. He even admitted that after she was released he wanted to have more kids with her.

[@kristensmith7490]

I'm currently a candidate for my MSW, and I work with severely mentally ill women everyday. Some of their actions are unexplainable but you have to understand the severity of mental illness. Its a serious matter that sometimes may cause someone to commit murder if they are not receiving the proper help and have adequate social support.

[@pluto6383]

Kristen Smith murder is never justified. What she did is immoral regardless of how ill she was. I agree they should've given her help beforehand but I still cannot believe anyone thinks of her as a victim. I'm hoping she isn't released from that institution. She also could tell right from wrong. This comment section is the cringier than SJWs

[@tiffanynielsen2212]

+TheSpartanRant: Addressing Worldwide Crap Agreed

[@Bubbless555]

But she was obviously consciously aware of what she was doing. She waited until her husband wasn't home. After she called the cops. How could something mental possess her to look at one child after another and drown them. Drowning isn't instant death either. Her children were struggling under her cold disgusting hands to breathe. She did that 5 times. She's not a "victim", her poor children are.

[@tiffanynielsen2212]

+jendwy81 amen

[@May04bwu]

Casually killing people... yeah, whatever.

[@lanaadams1364]

Please please do more of these Please please please

[@victoriapark6926]

I think the hospital or doctors should have been aware that she was too dangerous around kids and shouldn't be left alone. Not that it's entirely their fault but it should have been clear that's what they need to do.

[@ieatgold]

But that's the thing, they knew exactly what was happening to her and that she was not fit to be at home with her children and that she needed to go back on medication and be hospitalized. they refused her any kind of help, and where else is left after that? home. this happens a lot even today.

[@libbythomlinson1656]

Completely agree! If she tried to comment suicide who said she couldn't hurt the things that meant the most to her. It's a sad story of how mental illness can effect people. If she didn't suffer from the mental illness would she of hurt her babies?

[@AlexisXen]

The voiceovers were incredibly painful to listen to

[@mountaingoat3486]

What kind of help? You're so vague about solutions but you have no problem being specific about your feel good "women are amazing" message. Nutritional help? Emotional support? Both? She got psychiatric help. Are you really trying to say it was the one drug that pushed her over the edge? And that it's the doctor's responsibility? Maybe, just maybe, women are human beings too and are therefore capable of doing terrible things or are just simply dangers to society. She already got put in a mental institution instead of prison. They already took her circumstance into account. No more special treatment needed. And do you really want to thrust her back into society? That would turn her world inside out, especially if she has bipolar disorder. People with BD don't do well with change. That being said, as usual, it's clear to me you care more about your broad message and the profit behind it than the subject you're using to plaster it on. Good job, BuzzFeed.

[@MayAllYourStarsAlign]

I don't think they're saying she needs to be in society, but the fact that there was no more help to her family before the incident proves that the mental health help she was getting failed. She had tried killing herself 2 times, on different types of medication, and 2 days before the incident was trying to get help when he doctor failed to do so. They are saying this could have been prevented. She should have been institutionalized long before this incident happened and gotten the help she needed. Also, just because someone has BP it doesn't mean that they can't live normal lives outside of an institution. My family suffers greatly with BP, depression, anxiety, and OCD and most are very functional and well put together humans with the help of medications and therapy. You are basically saying that people who suffer mental illness don't deserve to be in the real world? Not saying this woman needs to be back in society, but she needs to have social contact inside or outside of the institution. Not having those contacts with society can make someone worse. Also, my cousin does damn well with change and she's BP. They never said one drug pushed her over the edge or the doctor is to blame, but the doctors around her should have caught on that there was something seriously wrong. That woman wasn't a danger to society until she developed a mental illness that consumed her life. That doesn't make her some terrible monster. That makes her human. She isn't evil. She suffers from something you will never understand.

[@TinaTissue28]

+GirlBlog I had to rush a very good friend of mine with BP to the mental ward after a suicide attempt earlier this year and she just got out. I know what they system can be like and it has improved since this woman killed her children. But this is in Australia. People who want to help themselves so and right now my friend with PPD has no intention of helping herself and is very content with letting her father raise her own daughter. while I shouldn't have painted everyone with the same brush, the ones I know that suffer from this don't want to help themselves and bring others into their situations.

[@mountaingoat3486]

+GirlBlog The mental health system has failed more people than anyone would want to count. There are too many people for the system to keep track of. It's up to the people who need help or their loved ones to make getting help a priority. If you apply this logic to most murders that have ever occurred, you could find something that coulda shoulda woulda maybe prevented it somewhere along the line with all of them. What makes this one special? The fact remains...she murdered her children. She decided to do that. The court decided she was not in her right mind and therefore sent her to a mental institution instead of prison. She was troubled like most murderers are troubled but like those other murderers she is not a victim of her own actions. Her children are the victims. If she wants to appeal her case in court she has the right to do so. BuzzFeed, or anyone else for that matter, does not have to the right to decide for everyone what Andrea Yates deserves. Maybe she doesn't want to re enter the world. She does have her own agency as a human being. I'm not the one treating her as though she doesn't. And I'm not the one acting as if every bipolar experience is exactly the same either. Because I understand that it isn't.

[@mackenziepalmer]

+GirlBlog they literally say she should be freed

[@catherinewu3159]

Finally. I've been scrolling so far down for this comment.

[@nissa111]

There's so much more to this story. This was no a mental illness issue this was a negligence issue on the husbands part. He would get her help and ignore the medical advice, not only that, they were following an occult leader. Very disappointed on the reporting. She murdered them in cold blood and she should not be freed.

[@smartalechorne9793]

I don't think she should be free. Whether or not it could of been prevented, she STILL did it. So she has to serve the time.

[@skylerpowers8871]

+SmartAlecHorne But she was mentally ill and obviously not thinking straight or coherently. Now she's cured, so why not free her? As long as she doesn't have children.

[@Ashley.McKinny]

+Skyler Powers regardless of the fact she was indeed mentally ill she still one by one killed her children.. Whether or not she is now so called "cured" she still killed her children and someone who has the capability and has done such a horrific crime such as that should not be released into society. I'm not blaming her I just truly do not believe she should be released back into society after killing her children..

[@skylerpowers8871]

+Ashley McKinny Anyone is capable of killing. Yes she killed her kids but she has postpartum psychosis. That's a serious disorder. As long as she doesn't have more children, she shouldn't be dangerous. Let's put it this way. If you had to be put in a hospital because you had a bad case of pneumonia. Would you want to have stay there after you got better just because maybe you could get it again in the future? Because that's the same concept.

[@skylerpowers8871]

indigetis ut vos scitis It really is. I think the matter at hand is, was she "with it" when she killed them? While it was her, she was suffering from a serious mental illness. You can't pin it on her as a person. And if she never has more children, theoretically, nothing like this will happen again since the murders can be blamed on postpartum psychosis. However, I've heard that her husband coaxed her into having more children than she wanted so in a backwards way, he is more responsible than she is. Of course, he had no idea that the births would lead to a serious mental illness that would end in catastrophe.

[@skylerpowers8871]

indigetis ut vos scitis I think they should release her but I can understand why someone would think otherwise.

[@kaitlinomalley5677]

They fail to mention she has had mental health issues for much longer and stopped taking her meds even tricking her husband into thinking she was taking them. It isn't just about postpartum.

[@egagnon9994]

They were cut in a manipulative, guilt ridden, harsh, fanatic religious group that were against psychiatrists and medications... Fear of disobeying God... That is why she refused to take them at the beginning...

[@sup4744]

It was more due to manipulation from the husband which I could describe as a cult leader

[@dewey7085]

Villan you cannot make a true murder seem like a victim herself

[@sierraflowers2346]

That's the thing. There's no denying what she did was horrendous - but how can she be pinned down as a villain when she had no control over what she did? No one chooses mental illnesses, and instead of punishing them we need to seek out what the cause of the issues are so we can put a stop to it entirely. Mental illness is an evil thing, though it can never be fully eradicated, it can be helped. In retrospect, in her mind she had no choice. In her mind what she was doing was suppose to help her children. The most tragic thing about this is at the end of the day, she still had her children's best interest in mind. That's the power of being a mother. You still want whats best for your children. There's no denying or excusing what she did, but we shouldn't see her as this evil person for it because, again, she had no control. We should help them instead of punish them.

[@chrissiavictors6655]

But she's not a "true murderer" I don't think you fully understand her mental illness. She truly believed it was the right thing to do, just as you believe that pizza is good. Imagine that you wake up one day and realize that you've done something horribly wrong, but you can't fix it. You were completely out of your mind. You weren't able to do anything about it. Mental illness was not a crutch. It's what controlled her. Obviously she didn't really think that killing her kids was a good idea, but the chemical imbalances in her brain convinced her. They completely took control over her, at no fault of her own. It's incredibly sad and not a good situation no matter how it is spun.

[@dirkeldritch4880]

Her mental illness is no excuse for what she did. Most serial killers suffer mental illness, and are put into prison for life.

[@pluto6383]

Charlee Johnson I agree. Everyone here is blaming the husband, when he's not the one who killed children. I have no sympathy for this woman and it's shameful anyone does. She's a mass murderer of innocent children who had a long life ahead of them.

[@ZivaLuthor]

Charlee Johnson Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy - none of them were mentally ill.

[@egagnon9994]

***** You forgot Edmund Kemper who, in his teen had an IQ of 130 and in his adulthood 160...

[@yms4355]

True. This is the embodiment of a pussypass. If I ever see her; I will punch her in the face!

[@yourlocalbi9811]

I think it's worth mentioning that when serial killers are mentally ill, they tend to have conditions that lessen or eliminate their ability to feel empathy and love. They have no remorse for their actions, and genuinely do not care about anyone's well being but their own. Andrea's case is fundamentally different. She isn't a sociopath, psychopath or narcissist. She had postpartum psychosis, which caused her to believe that her children were in terrible danger and the only way to save their souls was to kill them. What she did is horrifying, but it wasn't out of rage, jealousy or malice the way most murders are. She was extremely sick. I'm not excusing her actions. She killed all five of her children. But this case isn't as black and white as you all seem to think it is.

[@rocco1747]

U look at this woman who killed her 5 children by drowning them, and you feel bad for her?

[@personwhowarnsjumpscares8944]

that woman should experience the same fate as her children. I don't care if your mentally sick a murderer is still a murderer

[@chloedoe6387]

+EmiNiiChan So sick people should be euthanized? That's horrible, she is a victim, just like her children, of her mental illness. She shouldn't be released, but she should be pitied and cared for because she is sick, not evil.

[@unrealdonaldtrump9236]

you clearly haven't studied the law

[@logan1867]

+me too shut up

[@bryxe6492]

She couldn't help it. I don't think you understand. It was murder, she knows it was. But in the end it's really not her fault.

[@chloedoe6387]

Bryxe R'amen to that

[@abianahhowell8251]

she is a demon definitely a villain I'm proud of my mother for loving me and not trying to drown me in a bathtub.

[@alexisaguilar4984]

abianah howell shut up she was sick

[@abianahhowell8251]

Miss Alexis why are you telling me to shut up? she murdered her children I would have killed my self before I even thought of slaughtering my kids. She did it in such a gruesome way. do you know how painful it is to drown to death? how dare you tell these kids they don't have a chance at a future because their mother is sick. you're disgusting they were babies.

[@aidoll3692]

abianah howell I agree..... if she was sane. While she was a mother she was still not in a normal mental state and if she heard voices I can start to see why she would do such a thing.

[@garybailey1251]

You are an idiot. Even though this is not excusable, she was suffering from freaking *POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS*. This is mental disorder that causes stuff like I don't know, depression, suicidal thoughts and actions, unawareness for long periods of time, etc. Not to mention that the doctors said that having more children would make the disorder worse, but her husband, being a religious nut,forced her to have more children. But don't believe me because I am just a psychologist that uses correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and whatnot. Go to a source. Google it. But forget that; just going back to the point. My point is that she did not know what she was doing and she is not a villain, and definitely not a demon. Cut her some slack. Lesson by an adult man and a 12 yo girl.

[@hollymolly5582]

She was aware enough to wait for the husband to leave, if her psychosis was as severe as you're making it out to be she wouldnt have had the sense of mind to wait or call the police after. She is not a victim her children are