Infection Linked to Psychiatric Symptoms and Suicidal Urges in Young Americans
Families are reporting a potential connection between bacterial infections and severe mental health issues, including suicidal behavior, in young people.
A growing number of families in the United States are reporting a correlation between bacterial infections and severe psychiatric symptoms, including suicidal urges, in their children. These infections, often caused by Bartonella and Babesia, are increasingly being identified in postmortem tests of young individuals who have died by suicide.
One case highlighted involves Asher Berglin, who was 15 years old and described as energetic and curious. His mother, Jill, noted that Asher developed severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) tendencies and became dependent on her after falling ill. Asher's symptoms progressed rapidly, leading to significant behavioral changes. He was diagnosed with PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) shortly after a sore throat. In February 2026, he received infusion treatment for his condition.
Valerie Lindner, who died in 2023 at age 30, is another individual whose case has brought attention to this issue. Postmortem tests revealed she had a Bartonella infection. Scans of her brain before treatment showed abnormal activity in regions associated with movement and emotions, suggesting inflammation, while other areas indicated reduced function. Follow-up scans 18 months after treatment indicated some improvement in the outer layers of the brain, but deeper regions remained more active than normal.
Other young individuals identified in postmortem tests with Bartonella or Babesia infections include Alec Dulude, Emma Soorikian, Jake Picker, Louisa Johnson, and Alex Manfull. Louisa Johnson, known as Lulu, was diagnosed with PANDAS at age 11. She attempted to illustrate her illness through drawings in her notebook, depicting how the disease felt within her brain.
These infections are often tick-borne. Lyme disease, commonly caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by deer ticks, can also lead to co-infections such as Bartonella and Babesia. The research and anecdotal evidence suggest a potential, often overlooked, link between these infections and severe neurological and psychiatric conditions that can manifest in young people.
Families are sharing their experiences in hopes of raising awareness and encouraging further investigation into the connection between these infections and mental health crises among American youth. The situation underscores the need for increased awareness and diagnostic efforts within the medical community regarding these potential links. The article notes that after doctors discovered she had a Bartonella infection, one patient received treatment for 10 days before she died by suicide.
