Post-abortive women more likely to suffer mental health problems

We recently posted a story on the UK looking to enact a law that would provide independent counseling for women seeking abortion. Based on this article featured in the Daily Mail today on the mental health risks associated with abortion, we’d say that the idea of pre-abortion counseling is extremely valuable, and necessary. 

The new connection between mental health issues and abortion comes from a study led by American professor Priscilla Coleman and endorsed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Professor Coleman’s study was based on an analysis of 22 separate projects which together analysed the experiences of 877,000 women, of whom 163,831 had had an abortion. It said: ‘Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure.

‘Overall, the results revealed that women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81 percent increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10 percent of the incidence of mental health problems were shown to be directly attributable to abortion.’

The study said that abortion was linked with a 34 percent greater chance of anxiety disorders, and 37 percent higher possibility of depression, a more than double risk of alcohol abuse – 110 percent – a three times greater risk of cannabis use – at 220 percent – and 155 percent greater risk of trying to commit suicide.

As should be expected, Professor Coleman has come under attack by abortion advocates, who have gone after not only the results of this extensive study but also her personal academic reputation.

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