Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Scientific study shows abortions can lead to mental illness

Women may be at risk of mental health breakdowns if they have abortions, a medical royal college has warned. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says women should not be allowed to have an abortion until they are counselled on the possible risk to their mental health.
This overturns the consensus that has stood for decades that the risk to mental health of continuing with an unwanted pregnancy outweighs the risks of living with the possible regrets of having an abortion.


Read more about the report here.

Gee. Do ya think?

13 comments:

Apple said...

As a nurse who has worked in a health department and wrestled with this issue time and again, I want to say thank you for that post. We all knew it, but it's nice to have it backed up by science.

marcia said...

Very interesting article! Anyone willing to hazard a guess as to how long it will take such truth to overcome the political ramifications on this side of the Atlantic?

ladybug said...

I see it all too often, babies getting pregnant and parents who, have been so uninvolved to notice, forcing their own baby to make a decision that is harmful just becuase they want to go right back to not noticing. I weep for those children and for their parents and for the unborn as well.

Parents wake up! Spend time in your kids' lives - force yourself in if you have to!!!! Contrary to popular belief there are people in this world who will love and care for you without judgement.

marcia said...

Amen, ladybug!

Apple said...

I'd like to also comment that this, right here, is a perfect example of why it's important for us not to judge someone who has made this decision in the past. It may be forced, as ladybug said, it may have been voluntary...but either way, there are emotional repercussions to which we need to be sensitive. It's our job as Christians to love and to help direct them to Christ...without judgement and condemnation.

Lee said...

Yes, applepiemom, well put!

marcia said...

We have a lot of work to do in this area of "no condemnation" in the Christian community! Heard a woman speak a few months ago. Over the last fifteen years, she has developed a ministry, in an old, beautifully re-furbished home next to an abortion clinic. She said the most sad situations she works with are girls from area Christian (both Catholic and Protestant) high schools and colleges. They go for abortions because they believe it will be easier to live with the feelings of guilt afterwards than to face the disappointment and rejection they expect to receive from their parents and others in their Christian "support systems". While I deeply want to believe that this is a grave misperception on the part of these young women, it most certainly demonstrates that we have a long way to go in how we communicate love and acceptance!

Rick Lawrenson said...

I believe somewhere it is written, "Forgive others as you have been forgiven".

Grace is a big tough word for Christians.

Anonymous said...

I happen to be ProChoice. SOme people have to have medical abortions to save their own lives or because of a serious illness or deformity to the child. Some babies are born without a brain and therefore not compatible with life. I agree it must be a tremendous emotional burden for the poor mama in making that heartwrenching decision, but we must not stand in judgement of someone's decision and what is best for them and their family. It is a personal decision and should be respected as such.

Rick Lawrenson said...

It would be interesting, Ashley, to have some stats comparing situations like you described vs. the numbers of abortions that are for "convenience".

While I know there are some like you describe, I'd dare say that the vast, overwhelming majority have nothing to do with survival of either mother or child.

That's what I find so disgusting about abortion "rights".

CFHusband said...

My wife was put up for adoption instead of being aborted. She has lived a painful, but beautiful and fulfilled life.

My daughter would have been aborted if it were up to the medical professionals. She has lived a precarious, but miraculous and and fulfilling life.

Life, even when it's painful and precarious, is always better.

jullylaw said...

As an adopted child born of a teenage mom I can say I am so thankful that she chose life for me. It boggles my mind sometimes to think that she had the choice as to whether I should live or die. A person I have only been around a few times in my life got to choose for me. I understand this was a personal decision and I respect her for allowing me to live...but I wonder???Where was my choice? Anyways, I remember the first time I met her she said, "Are you mad at me?" I said,"Are you kidding I am alive."

La Familia Garcia said...

Grace is a big tough word for Christians.
That is true. I know some people who have abortions who will never admit to the pain it has caused them in their life because of the guilt other Christians put on them. If we could say "I still love you" to them, just as God does to us when we sin, that would speak volumes.
People will do anything in their power to keep truth like this covered up but thanks for sharing