The largest ever meta-analysis of the effects of abortion on mental health has shown that there is a higher risk of developing mental health problems among women who have had an abortion than among those who decide instead to give birth.
The analysis was carried out by Professor Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green University, Ohio, who presented her findings in Parliament yesterday (6 March) at the ‘Colloquium on the Psychological Effects of Abortion’.
Results of analysis
Professor Coleman’s research, entitled “Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research”, looked at 22 peer-reviewed articles published on the effects of abortion. She found that:
“Women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10% of the incidence of mental health problems was shown to be attributable to abortion.”
She said that:
“The results revealed a moderate to highly increased risk of mental health problems after abortion. Consistent with the tenets of evidence-based medicine, this information should inform the delivery of abortion services.”
“The denial of the psychological impact of abortion leads to misinformed professionals and leaves millions of women worldwide struggling alone to cope with the aftermath of past abortions.”
She criticised previous, smaller-scale studies that appeared to show that abortion did not increase mental health outcomes as having seriously misguided methodology.
Illegality
Professor Coleman’s findings cast serious doubt on whether the majority of abortions in the UK are carried out legally.
Abortion is illegal under the Abortion Act 1967, yet there are a few exceptions to this rule. 98% of abortions are carried out under Grounds C, which allows for abortion if the risk to the mother’s mental or physical health is greater if she has the child than if she does not have it.
Yet Professor Coleman’s research confirms that this is usually highly unlikely to be the case, meaning that most abortions are being carried out illegally, with many doctors potentially being open to charges of perjury.
Counselling
Also at the Colloquium was Professor Patricia Casey, from University College Dublin, who spoke about her experience as a psychiatrist.
Her patients often told her about the lack of counselling and support they had received at abortion clinics. One of them said: “I had what was called counselling: They asked me: did I want an abortion? It lasted one minute.”
Professor Casey pointed out how counselling from abortion providers was profoundly limited and often included no questions about prior mental health problems.
She emphasised that, even if a woman did feel distress about having a baby, “distress is not a mental health problem; it is a normal human emotion”.
She told the Colloquium that the need for counselling is evident as the psychological processing of an abortion is highly complex and difficult.
“Even pro-choicers will say ‘I got rid of my baby’, and many pro-choicers want to see a clergy man or woman – there is clearly a need for absolution,” she said.
Comment
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said:
"People can no longer ignore the compelling evidence that abortion is a danger, not just to the unborn, but to the women themselves. We will continue to work with others to shine light on abortion practices in this nation and show how great the human cost is."
Resources
Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research
Induced First-Trimester Abortion and Risk of Mental Disorder
World Expert Consortium for Abortion Research and Education