Family Of MA Mother Who Took Her Life After Twins' Birth Wants You To Know Her Story

NORTON, MA — After a "vibrant and devoted" Norton woman who had just given birth to twins died by suicide in May, the Easton Police Department decided to help one of its officers — the late mother's husband — raise awareness about postpartum depression.

As Officer Stephen "Tyler" Sutton, his 4-year-old daughter Melody Ki, and twins Irene and Stephen, begin the process of learning to live without their beloved wife and mother Ariana Sutton, 36, Easton police Chief Keith Boone told WCVB he wants people who hear the story to know that it is okay to ask for help.

"If [Tyler's] story and Ariana's story can help save somebody else, then that's what he's hoping he can accomplish," Boone said, according to the outlet.

"Two weeks ago, we were calling him saying, 'Congratulations,' and putting cards together for [Officer Sutton]. Now, we're preparing for a funeral," Boone added. "He's got a long road ahead of him to put the pieces back together of his life."

In a GoFundMe campaign started by Arianna Sutton's loved ones, the 36-year-old was described as "a vibrant and devoted mother" who "was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her twins, Everly Irene Sutton and Rowan Stephen Sutton."

"Unfortunately, their early arrival brought unforeseen challenges, placing an immense strain on Ariana's mental health," the GoFundMe description continued. "Despite her relentless efforts to seek help, the burden of postpartum depression became too much to bear."

A Spectrum Of Severity

Paige Bellenbaum, the founding director of The Motherhood Center in New York City, said about 80 percent of all new mothers and birth people experience the baby blues. Symptoms like extreme irritability and crying spells usually last for a few days or up to two weeks postpartum.

But if symptoms persist beyond that or intensify, it's important to see a doctor about possible postpartum depression, Bellenbaum said. She noted that suicide and substance use are the leading cause of maternal death, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bellenbaum explained that symptoms of postpartum depression fall on a spectrum of severity.

"There might be a new mother who is feeling overwhelmed and emotional and feels a sense of regret as she misses who she was before she became a mother, but she's still able to complete daily tasks and she's still able to feel bonded to the baby and function and care for herself and the baby," Bellenbaum told Patch.

But on the other side of the spectrum, there are mothers who find themselves "feeling hopeless, helpless, having suicidal ideation, and not finding joy in any of the things she used to find joy in," she added.

All perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are treatable, Bellenbaum said.

"Antidepressants can be a very effective line of defense to combat those very distressing depressive symptoms," Bellenbaum said.

"If we have someone who's experiencing mild symptoms, she might benefit from a support group or a peer support group being around other new and expecting mothers that are having a difficult time and are looking for a sense of community to just be able to talk about what's going on," Bellenbaum said.

Someone with more severe symptoms might benefit from outpatient treatment, or if necessary, a perinatal partial hospitalization program, a day program, or an inpatient psychiatric facility, she added.

"I always suggest counseling and therapy with a therapist that specializes in maternal mental health," Bellenbaum said.

With proper treatment, new and expecting mothers can get "back to their baseline so that they can really enjoy motherhood as they're meant to," according to Bellenbaum.

'It's So Important That You Ask For Help'

In addition to requesting funds to help the Sutton family manage expenses after their loss, the campaign organizers requested that Ariana Sutton's story is shared to help "raise awareness about postpartum depression and the importance of mental health care during and after pregnancy."

Speaking with The Enterprise, Catherine Sutton, Ariana Sutton's sister-in-law, said that she hopes that the stigma is removed from mental health struggles.

"It's so important that you ask for help," she said. "If another family's able to avoid what we're going through right now, it's worth it to share our story."

The organizers of the GoFundMe added that "By fostering a supportive community, we can strive to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies."

"Let us show the Sutton family that they are not alone, and that their story has touched countless hearts," the campaign concluded.

By giving women space for discussions, we give others permission to come forward with their own experiences, Bellenbaum said.

"The most heartbreaking aspect is when women don't come forward, when they white knuckle it, when they're afraid of the shame and stigma," Bellenbaum added. "I am bowing down to the Sutton family for using this as a moment to shine a light on the prevalence and the tragedy that goes along with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders when we don't catch them. It's why education, screening, and treatment are so incredibly important."

Sutton, 36, was born in Stoughton and raised in Easton, according to her obituary. She graduated from Oliver Ames High School in 2005 before attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Sutton co-owned Starline Academy for the Performing Arts in Stoughton with her sister, according to her obituary. She was also a member of the Greater Brockton Dance Teacher’s Association and a former member of the Impact Dance Company in Boston.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.