Lessons From the Sheryl Massip Trial

There is a moral or lesson to be derived from the Massip tragedy and the chief one seems to be this: If you are depressed, postpartum or otherwise, and feel that you might hurt yourself or someone else, seek help.

From whom? From friends, ministers/priests, social workers, counselors’ hot lines, possibly even family members. There are literally thousands of people in Orange County who would have been glad to help and could have done so expertly.

It seems odd to have to say the foregoing; it seems so obvious. But it’s just as obvious that in Massip’s case, as certainly in many others, it very much needs to be said: Seek help. Doing so can’t be as bad as many possible results of not doing so.

WILLIAM C. PRYOR

Cypress