WORCESTER, Mass. - The tragedy in Duxbury, where a mother is accused of killing two of her young children, has shined a light on mental health, especially for parents. 

Dr. Nancy Byatt, executive director of Lifeline for Families Center and the Lifeline for Moms Program, said she can't speculate about the mother in Duxbury's mental state, but one in five women will experience a mood or anxiety disorder during parenting.

Postpartum depression impacts about one in seven people, while postpartum psychosis is much more rare.  It occurs in 1 or 2 in 2,000 women, and can lead to delusions and hallucinations.

Byatt said the best thing a mother can do for their family is to get help. In Massachusetts, a program known as MCPAP for Moms does just that. 

"What MCPAP for Moms does is, any provider who is serving a pregnant or postpartum individual throughout Massachusetts can call our program and we will hold their hand and help them manage psychiatric illness during this time period," Byatt said.

The program is free and funded by the Massachusetts department of mental health.  If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the suicide and crisis lifeline is 988.