A woman’s long-documented struggles with severe mental illness and past suicide attempts led adoption agencies to reject her and her husband’s application, highlighting systemic barriers faced by individuals with psychiatric histories who seek to build families. The couple, who wished to remain anonymous, navigated a system that, despite the woman’s years of stability and commitment to treatment, deemed her unfit to adopt due to her past hospitalizations and ongoing antipsychotic medication.
The woman, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, openly discussed her mental health history during interviews with perinatal psychiatry clinics, seeking guidance on family planning. Despite national statistics showing that roughly 18% of parents experience mental health conditions annually, her past attempts at suicide and delusional episodes – including a period where she believed she was recruited by the CIA – were flagged as disqualifying by adoption agencies.
The couple’s journey included thorough planning: exploring foster care, domestic infant adoption, and even securing commitments from family for support. The woman had achieved stability through consistent medication, earning a master’s degree and maintaining employment. However, adoption agencies consistently denied their application, citing her psychiatric history as an insurmountable obstacle.
One social worker bluntly informed her that no agency would consider her case due to her hospitalization history. This experience underscores a wider issue: reproductive healthcare for women with severe mental illness remains underaddressed, despite over 13% of pregnant women taking psychotropic medication and a significant percentage exposed to atypical antipsychotics.
The woman and her husband ultimately chose to forgo further attempts at parenthood, recognizing the toll on her mental health. She now focuses on wellness, finding fulfillment in her stable relationship and rescue pets. Her story raises questions about societal stigma and systemic biases that prevent individuals with mental health histories from accessing reproductive options.
The couple’s decision to prioritize the woman’s well-being over parenthood serves as a stark reminder: while medical advancements allow many to manage their conditions, societal barriers remain firmly in place. The experience highlights how deeply entrenched stigma impacts reproductive rights and the need for increased support and understanding for those navigating mental health while seeking to build families.
