Mother arrested for drowning her 2 children in bathtub

@rainyday, Japan is not a country that makes it easy for the mentally ill to ask for help -- particularly mothers, who are frequently told to "gaman" and always put their children's needs ahead of their own at all times. Such a mentality will surely lead to more tragic cases like this one.It's easy to dismiss a mentally ill person who commits a crime as an isolated "monster" -- it's far harder to help such mothers, before it's too late. 

Yeah, I totally agree with that. There are serious systemic problems at work here and dismissing cases like this as the acts of an isolated monster just serve to perpetuate that without addressing those issues.

That said, to me the sensible response is to frame this as an issue that needs to be prevented by focusing on helping at risk mothers (as you do in this comment). Your earlier comment however was focused on providing this specific mother with help after the damage had already been done, which struck me as equally missing the point.

@rainyday, I will just say I fully empathize with this woman and leave it at that. I hope she gets the help she clearly needs.

I can totally empathize with the many mothers out there struggling with the extreme difficulties of motherhood and the emotional and mental toll it takes.

But I can't empathize with someone who has just murdered two defenseless children, nor do I see the point in doing so. That is not a bell that can be un-rung.

If you look at this and think "Yeah, I could see myself doing something like that" then in all honesty I hope you are getting some help to deal with that.

I'm pretty confident that I could suffer through a generous helping of first-world "depression" and "trauma" and NOT hold my own children under water until they die.

This is incomprehensible, aberrant and criminal behavior, which should be punished to the full extent of the law.

It is too late for "understanding", and if you disagree, take up your argument with the two children.

Everyone is on the spectrum!!

The government will finally do something about mental health after they realize too many Taxpayers are killing themselves and other future potential Taxpayers...and not before.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I am sure there is a small charity ( something like the Samaritans ) that you can phone if your in dire need of help, but it is very limited, its always difficult to introduce a new concept into a different nations culture, but this could be funded by the government and it would go a long way in the popularity ratings, this could be rolled out over the entire country.

IF, this lady phoned this hot line just for some one to talk to, maybe it could have been enough to save the kids lives, and also there is another lady who has killed her baby in the news this morning, wether this down to baby blues/depression, I dont know, but either way it is very sad for everyone.

It goes without saying. But I've been in the poor woman's position myself, 

Wait. You aren't saying you've been in the position where you've just murdered two children, are you?

She will get a suspended sentence. That’s what happens to double child killers in japan.

She can't get a suspended sentence. Suspended sentences are reserved for crimes carrying a punishment of less than 3 years in prison. Murder and manslaughter defendants aren't eligible for it.

Lisa TwaroniteToday 11:37 am JST

Poor woman. I hope she gets the mental health help she so clearly needs -- and should have gotten long before this happened. My heart also goes out to the poor grandmother.

You forgot the children, the people who really deserve the appellation "poor" in all this. Slipped your mind?

It’s hard to understand what kind of trigger would push a mother to murder her two young children and then attempt to kill herself. It is very sad that this kind of thing happens so often in Japan.

I agree with you but that's easier said than done because some people hide their depression very well.

Plus most Japanese people know nothing about mental health. They just think “Oh, there goes that weird/crazy person again”.

Why don’t family or friends spot the signs of depression earlier and offer help?

I agree with you but that's easier said than done because some people hide their depression very well.

As the father of a 5 and 2 year old, this is just beyond horrifying.

I hope she burns in hell.

And her defense team will argue that she was not responsible because of her mental state at the time of the crime.

He's right, suspended sentence because the case was reviewed by a judge who is understanding.

She will get a suspended sentence. That’s what happens to double child killers in japan.

So tragic :(

Why don’t family or friends spot the signs of depression earlier and offer help?