Transcript MentalHealth Risk of Abortion

Mental and Social Health
Risks of Abortion
Joe Emmerich
Text Evaluation
Abortion Is Not A Quick Fix !

“Abortions were supposed to be a “quick fix” for my
problems, but they didn’t tell me there is no “quick fix”
for regret. I went to a psychiatric hospital and they
gave me shock treatments. They didn’t help. The
nightmare continued. I became a workaholic. Work
didn’t help. I became a compulsive eater. Food didn’t
help. I became an anorexic as another form of selfpunishment. That came close to killing me, I had two
strokes. I tried alcohol. It helped temporarily. The
torment would still be there when I woke up.”
Judith Evans
Why Should Post Abortion Mental
Health Be Addressed in Our Text?
At current rates, 35% of American women
will have had an abortion by the age of 45
 Nearly half of all American pregnancies
are unintended and 40% of these end in
an abortion.

National Right to Life

22% of all U.S. pregnancies (excluding
miscarriages) end in abortion. This equals
approximately 1.3 million a year.
Guttmacher Institute
Abortion Is Linked to Contraception
92% of women who have an abortion
have used a method of birth control prior
to their abortion
 54% of American women who have an
abortion have used a contraceptive
method during the month they become
pregnant

Guttmacher Institute
How does abortion effect women?
Women who had an abortion have a 98%
increase for one or more mental health
disorders as compared to women who did
not have an abortion.
 In addition, women who had an abortion
have an increased risk of social and
relationship problems including substance
abuse, divorce and child abuse

Elliot Institute
Mental Health Risks
Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts
60% of women report suicidal thoughts after
abortion
 6% of all suicidal thought cases in the United
States can be attributed to abortions
 28% of women have one or more suicide
attempt after abortion
 Suicide rate within one year after abortion is
6 times higher than for women carrying their
baby to term

Elliot Institute
Substance Abuse

25% of cases of drug use in the U.S. are
believed to be related to abortion
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
280% increased risk for any substance abuse
disorder
 Five-fold increased risk of drug abuse (in those
who had no previous history of drug abuse)
 261% increased risk of alcohol abuse
 Twice as likely to become heavy smokers (and
suffer the corresponding health risks)

Elliot Institute
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
At least 19% of women suffer from
diagnosable PTSD after abortion
 Approximately 50% of women had
many but not all symptoms of PTSD
 20%-40% showed moderate to high
levels of stress and avoidance behavior
related to their abortion experience

Elliot Institute
Eating Disorders

Post abortion stress is associated with:
– Binge eating
– Bulimia
– Anorexia nervosa
Elliot Institue
Sexual Dysfunction

30%-50% of women report sexual
dysfunction following abortion including:
– Promiscuity
– Loss of pleasure from intercourse
– Increased pain
– Aversion to sex and/or men
Elliot Institute
Other mental health risks after abortion

167% increase rate higher for bipolar
Journal of Psychiatric Research

65% increase risk of clinical depression
Medical Science Monitor
61% increased risk for mood disorder
 61% increased risk for social anxiety disorder

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
59% increased risk for suicidal thoughts
 44% increased rate of panic attacks
 30% higher risk of generalized anxiety disorder

Journal of Anxiety
Disorder
Social and Relationship
Problems
Divorce and Chronic Relationship
Problems
Couples are more likely to divorce or
separate following abortion
 Many women develop a greater difficulty
forming lasting bonds with a male partner
following abortion, resulting in shorter
relationships and more divorces

Elliot Institute
Child Abuse
144% more likely to abuse their children
 Increase in child abuse likely related to:

– Increased depression
– Violent behavior
– Alcohol and drug abuse
– Replacement pregnancies
– Reduced maternal bonding with children
Elliot Institute
Post-Abortion Counseling

Rachel’s Vineyard
– www.rachelsvineyard.org
– 877-HOPE 4 ME

Pro-Life America
– www.prolifeamerica.com
– 1-800-401-6494
Work Cited Page
1.
www.elliotinstitute.com
2.
www.guttmacher.org
3.
www.researchforlife.org
DC Reardon et al, “Death Associated With Pregnancy outcome: Record Linkage
Study of Low Income Women,” Southern Medical Journal 95(8) 834-41 Aug 2002
Mota, NP et al., “Associations Between Abortion, Mental Disorders and Suicidal
Behavior in a Nationally Reprsentative Sample,” The Canadian Journal of
Psychiatry 55(4): 239-246 (April 2010)
Coleman, PK et. al., “Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse
disorders: Isolating the effects of abortion in the national co morbidity survey, “
Journal of Psychiatric Research (2008), doi10.10.1016/j.jpshchires 2008.10.009
DC Reardon, JR Cougle “Depression Associated With Abortion and Child birth: A
Long Term Analysis of the NYLS Cohort,” Medical Science Monitor 9(4): CR105112, 2003
JR Cougle, DC Reardon, PK Coleman, “General Anxiety Following Uninteded
Resolved through Child birth or Abortion: A Cohort Study of the 1995 National
Survey of Family Growth,” Journal of Anxiety Disorder 19:137-142,2005
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