Faith
Abortion Linked to Higher Mental Health Risks
Faith Facts
- Women who undergo abortions face a heightened risk of mental health-related hospitalizations compared to those who carry pregnancies to term, new research reveals.
- The study, conducted across Quebec hospitals from 2006 to 2022, found that rates of substance use disorders and suicide attempts increased following induced abortions.
- Priors of mental illness and younger age intensified the risk, while even women without previous mental health issues faced increased danger.
The University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, alongside other institutions, examined over 1.2 million pregnancies and found a clear association between abortion and later mental health struggles, though the link weakens over time. The study illuminates that abortion is not without consequences, emphasizing the need for compassionate support grounded in faith and family values.
Pro-life advocate David Reardon noted,
“This is the latest in a string of record-based studies that do not suffer from any self-selection or recall bias. Plus, the authors fully controlled for women’s mental health histories before and after their abortions.”
Reardon further explained,
“They found that prior mental health problems clearly magnify the risk that abortion will exacerbate the risk of a psychiatric crisis, but there [was] also elevated risks for women with no prior mental health issues.”
He concluded,
“To insist that abortion never impacts mental health is, essentially … an absurd, ideologically driven fantasy.”
Additionally, a 2023 global review found 34.5% of women who had abortions suffered from depression, with experts calling for better post-abortion care and emotional support.
As believers, we are called to provide genuine love, counsel, and care for women facing difficult choices, defending both life and mental well-being. Let us encourage our communities to walk in compassion, truth, and steadfast Christian hope.