Episode 98: THE LAUREN DICKASON TRAGEDY and maternal mental health, with Raylene de Villiers (PART I)

The Great Equalizer

In this episode of The Great Equalizer, we focus on maternal mental health in the context of the Dickason tragedy.
Lauren Dickason has been in the news for the last two or so years, but more so in recent months when the mom of three and fellow South African was convicted in the New Zealand courts for the murder of her three daughters, Liane (6) and Karla and Maya (2).
At the time of the tragedy, the South African mom had recently emigrated to New Zealand with her family. Her husband, Graham, an orthopaedic surgeon, received a job opportunity and so, like many emigrating South Africans, the family took the opportunity to seek out what they thought would be greener pastures. The tragedy occurred weeks after the Dickasons had settled into their new home, on the evening of the first day that the twins went to school.
Due to the weight of the content, this episode takes place in two parts to open up conversation around maternal mental health, with a focus on IVF in Part II. The Great Equalizer's intention is not to provide a blow by blow of what happened, or place judgement either way.
In this episode we do our best to present the conversation in a way that stays true to the story and helps unpack the feelings of many of us who have stayed tuned to what has transpired – and what information has come to light – over the last two years.
What we think is most important here is to provide context for why this story resonated so deeply for many families in South Africa, and where we can go from here as a society.
Special thanks. to in-studio guest Raylene de Villiers, who once knew the murder accused intimately during a trying time during their lives.
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#maternalmentalhealth #mentalhealth #pps #postpartum #postpartumpsychosis #infanticide #filicide #motherhoodunplugged #motherhood #laurendickason
** This episode of The Great Equalizer was recorded in September 2023.
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DISCLAIMER & CONTENT WARNING:
The Great Equalizer endeavours to maintain a degree of respect for all viewpoints, and to uphold our policy of #nojudgies. The point of this difficult discussion is to shed some light on a dark topic, so that those of you who feel the need to talk about it and make sense of it, or even those who might be at risk of falling prey to similar circumstances, have a space to listen, grow and grieve. As always, everyone has a seat at our table, and we’re looking here to make sense of an often sad and scary world.
If at any point during these two episodes you are worried about your or someone else’s mental health, please contact:
– your GP or your local clinic
– South African Depression and Anxiety Group on 011 234 4837. Sadag has a WhatsApp counselling line that operates from 09:00 to 16:00: 076 882 2775.
– The Gauteng Mental Health Society: 011 984 4038
– The SA Federation For Mental Health: 011 781 1852
If you are in danger or someone else is endangering others, call the police immediately on 08600 10111 or 112 from a mobile phone.
If you need to take a step back and protect your energy, please do so. But stay tuned if you’ve wanted a space to think and talk about this conversation, and didn’t know where to go. This is why we’re here. INFERTILITY SUCCESS STORIES · Opinion | Who is to blame for the Dickason tragedy? We are, South Africa · Watch us on You Tube