Maternal Suicide: A Mother's Reflection on Perinatal Depression
LISTEN ON: APPLE | SPOTIFY
Episode Notes
In this deeply moving episode, host Becky Gleed speaks with Susan Aguayo, founder of Kasey’s Kause, about the tragic loss of her daughter Kasey to maternal suicide. Sue reflects on Kasey’s struggle with perinatal depression, the warning signs too often missed, and how her grief turned into advocacy. Together, they shed light on the critical gaps in maternal mental health care and what families, providers, and communities can do to support new mothers.
“Always remember that what you feel does not determine who you are.”
Guest information
Susan Aguayo was born in South America, Peru and came to the United States, New York at the age of 5 years old. In 2004 she relocated with her husband and 4 beautiful children to NM and adopted 3 children to complete the large family they dreamed about. She was blessed to see her older children be married and start their own families.
Unfortunately, her third child was lost in 2015 due to an illness that is so common, but so not spoken about much. She suffered from Perinatal Depression during her pregnancy. She learned of different agencies and organizations that helped with mental health, but not any that locally worked within our community in Maternal Mental Health.
She is now the founder of a nonprofit Kassy’s Kause in her daughter’s name giving resources and support groups so no one should ever have to experience this tragic loss. In 2019 she was nominated Women of the year with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and NM State Mother of the year with American Mothers Inc. In 2020 she ran for State Senate in NM to bring to light the importance of many subjects lacking attention, especially maternal mental health. She was also the Liaison for NMPSI (Postpartum Support International), but currently is the NM coordinator and one of the Spanish facilitators for their support groups.
Susan’s passion is to help families not experience what her family had to endure because of the lack of education on this illness. No mom should ever feel alone.