Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 31, 2013, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A4 A 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013 TOP NEWS winnipegfreepress. com THE deaths of 32- year- old Lisa Gibson and her two children may jolt a community to take a hard look at a mental- health issue that lurks in the shadows. Or worse, it may only force women and families to hide or dismiss symptoms, especially for rare cases of psychotic behaviour in which new mothers are already paranoid and anxious. " How do we raise awareness without pushing more women back in the closet?" said Karen Kleiman, the founder of Philadelphia- based Postpartum Stress Centre. There is no easy answer. Kleiman, a licensed clinical social worker, wrote her first book on postpartum in 1994 titled, This Isn't What I Expected . It detailed the lack of awareness of postpartum depression ( PPD) among health- care employees and mothers alike, and how the latter would often fear discussing symptoms with even close friends and family. " Twenty- five years later and it's amazing how little has changed," Kleiman said. " Women still go to their doctor. He asks, ' How are you doing?' She says, ' Everything's fine.' Then she goes home and thinks about killing herself." PPD has a range of symptoms: depression, feeling estranged from the newborn, lethargy and intrusive thoughts about harm coming to the baby. Those symptoms are said to affect as many as 20 per cent of mothers. Cases of postpartum psychosis are more rare, ranging between 1- in- 1,000 and 2- in- 1,000 births. Sources said Gibson sought help for some form of postpartum mental illness, although there has been no confirmation of psychosis. However, since the vast majority of women who suffered from PPD never harm their children, the working theory among experts remains psychosis, a break from reality in which mothers can be haunted by voices telling them to harm their children, who are possessed, or to save them by taking their lives. " Trust me when I say these mothers believe they're doing the right thing," Kleiman said. " That's scary for all new moms, it's true." The problem is diagnosing which scary thoughts are postpartum anxiety and which thoughts could be rooted in psychosis. " There are tons of misinformed health- care professionals, and there are tons of misinformed mothers," Kleiman said. " Women with postpartum depression do not kill their babies." Psychosis is believed to be triggered hormonally, with symptoms appearing as soon as 48 to 72 hours after birth, although the majority of episodes develop within the first two weeks after delivery, according to the PSC literature. Kleiman said a woman suffering postpartum psychosis may hide her symptoms. Since differentiating between acute anxiety and psychotic symptoms is crucial, Kleiman suggested questions that should be asked of every postpartum woman who goes to the ER. They should be asked in front of family. . Does anyone in her family have a history of bipolar illness? . Is she talking or acting in a strange manner that is not characteristic for her? . Is she unusually quiet and withdrawn, or speaking rapidly with little concentration? . Does she claim to hear things or see things that others do not? . Is she suspicious of others or expressing concern others are out to get her and trying to harm her in some way? . Does she have a decreased need for sleep or food and/ or exhibit a high degree of confidence or an exaggerated sense of her capabilities or self- worth? . Does she feel abnormally hyperactive with racing thoughts and/ or behaviours? randy. turner@ freepress. mb. ca K ARLA Penner wasn't sure about what to do, she just knew something had to be done. Penner realized the deaths of Lisa Gibson and her two children have touched many women, especially, as evidenced by the outpouring of mourning in the wake of the tragedy. The pile of stuffed animals in front of the Gibson's home was one sign. The other: Penner last week wrote a blog titled, For Lisa Gibson , an open letter to the 32- year- old mother who was missing at the time. Penner wrote, in part, " I am so sorry that the darkness that plagued you was bigger than anyone knew. I'm sorry there wasn't enough help or understanding. I'm sorry that you found yourself alone with your babies, even for that short while. You must have been so afraid." Usually, Penner's blog gets 100 hits. The letter to Gibson had more than 2,000 hits Tuesday. " There's that unfinished element to this thing where people wanted a memorial or forum to bring closure to their part of the story," Penner said. " There's a lot of people who don't vilify her and realize that's not who Lisa Gibson was." Penner, a mother of three studying marriage and family therapy, is organizing a candlelight vigil in memory of Gibson and her two children, two- year- old Anna and three- month- old Nicholas to be held at 7: 30 p. m. Thursday at The Forks. The vigil will be held near where Gibson's body was found on Saturday in the Red River. Anna and Nicholas were found by paramedics in critical condition in the bathtub of the family home. Gibson, who was reportedly suffering symptoms of postpartum illness, was the last person to be seen with the children. Penner, who said she has struggled with depression and anxiety, is asking people who attend the vigil to bring their own candles, and white flowers to throw in the murky Red River. " That's a symbol of light in dark places," Penner said, adding, " It's going to be really simple and really grassroots. " I thought this would be a positive thing for the city and the family." Also Thursday, a memorial service will be held for Gibson and her two children at MacKenzie Funeral Home in Stonewall. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Police Service and Community Services Department have partnered with several social- service agencies to be made available to the public tonight between 5: 30 p. m. and 8: 30 p. m. at the Kirkfield Westwood Community Centre at 165 Sansome Ave. The agencies will include the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Mobile Crisis Unit, Klinic, and Manitoba Family Services. Representatives from the agencies will be available to answer any questions and provide information on services available. randy. turner@ freepress. mb. ca Mom inspired to organize vigil ' I am so sorry that the darkness that plagued you was bigger than anyone knew' - Karla Penner's blog, For Lisa Gibson Flowers, candles to cast ray of light on painful tragedy By Randy Turner Fear is women will hide illness By Randy Turner Review of Gibson file given to medical examiner The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has completed its review of the medical system's dealings with Lisa Gibson and handed it over to the chief medical examiner. WRHA spokeswoman Heidi Graham reiterated Tuesday the health authority would not release its report to the public for privacy reasons. " We have pulled together ( Gibson's) interactions with our services and have shared that information with the CME ( Dr. Thambirajah Balachandra) for his investigation. The CME ultimately will make a decision about whether or not to call an inquest," Graham wrote in an email to the Free Press . " The initial information we have is that the care provided by WRHA follow( ed) normal protocols for postpartum care. We can't comment further on the specifics now as family has specifically asked for privacy and ( the) CME is still investigating," she said. Asked if Gibson's family had received a copy of the WRHA report, Graham said the chief medical examiner's office had been in contact with the family. Gibson's body was recovered from the Red River Saturday. Police discovered her twoyear- old daughter, Anna, and three- month- old son, Nicholas, in the bathtub of their Coleridge Park Drive home July 24 after a 911 call. The children were pronounced dead at hospital. Liberal MLA Dr. Jon Gerrard said he believes the WRHA can release more information while still meeting privacy requirements. " I think it's very important that we have more information than we have." Gerrard said. " We clearly need more explanation and more understanding about what took place at the WRHA level." Gerrard said it's important to mobilize efforts to better treat postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Case may scare anxious moms into staying silent A doctor who sexually assaulted an incapacitated teenaged patient at the Children's Hospital will be deported once he is released from prison. A Manitoba judge must decide when that might happen. The Crown is seeking up to seven more years behind bars for Walid Abdelhamid, saying he committed a " predatory" breach of trust that cries out for deterrence. But defence lawyers say Abdelhamid, who hails from Libya, should be freed immediately because the time he's spent in custody far exceeds sufficient punishment. Queen's Bench Justice Joan McKelvey reserved her decision after hearing arguments Tuesday. Her ruling isn't expected until the fall. Abdelhamid, 33, was convicted of sexual assault following a trial earlier this year. He was working at Health Sciences Centre in 2009 when he twice assaulted the 15- year- old boy, who had suffered a serious back injury while riding a motorbike. The now- 18- year- old told court he awoke twice in the middle of the night to find Abdelhamid fondling him. Both incidents occurred when he was immobilized and receiving morphine for pain. A key issue at trial was the youth's state of mind as a result of being medicated. Defence lawyer Marty Minuk repeatedly suggested the boy may have been too high to comprehend what happened. But the youth said he knew what happened. The first incident happened around 2 a. m. The teen said he woke up and found Abdelhamid hovering over him, touching his genitals. The incident lasted a few seconds before a nurse walked in and Abdelhamid quickly pulled his hands back and left the room. The teen said when he woke up around 5 a. m., Abdelhamid was attempting to perform oral sex on him. Abdelhamid fled again, and this time the teen rang the buzzer to summon a nurse and disclose what had happened. His parents were notified and police were called. Minuk questioned Tuesday how much impact the crime has really had on the victim. He told court the teen has since returned to motocross racing and has had another accident, which landed him back in hospital. But prosecutor Adam Bergen scoffed at the suggestion that returning to the sport he loves is somehow a sign the teen wasn't traumatized by the incidents. He said the teen's parents stayed at his bedside 24/ 7 during his later hospital stay because he was afraid to be alone. The judge must assess Abdelhamid's pre- trial custody. Abdelhamid was released on bail following his arrest, but fled the country and end up in Greece. He was arrested and returned to Canada in May 2011 and has remained in custody since. Abdelhamid spent nine months in custody in Greece, and has now been incarcerated for 27 months in Canada. Minuk argued Tuesday those 27 months should be given double- time credit of 54 months because his arrest pre- dates legislative changes banning the two- for- one credit. As a result, Minuk claims his client has already served the equivalent of a 63- month sentence. He said other precedents in Canada show a range of one to three years is proper punishment, which would allow Abdelhamid to be freed and deported immediately. The Crown argued Tuesday Abdelhamid should be given no credit for his pre- trial custody because he is the author of his own demise, having fled while on bail. The Crown is seeking an additional six or seven years behind bars. Minuk called that " vengeful." www. mikeoncrime. com Deportation awaits MD who assaulted patient By Mike McIntyre Walid Abdelhamid is from Libya. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Karla Penner ( right) and Joyce Kehler Hildebrand are organizing a vigil Thursday to give Winnipeggers an opportunity to grieve. Brian, Lisa, Anna and Nicholas Gibson in an undated Facebook photo. A_ 04_ Jul- 31- 13_ FP_ 01. indd A4 7/ 30/ 13 10: 33: 23 PM ;