USA – The Least Understood Impact of Abortion Bans

BY MICHELLE OBERMAN
FEB 01, 2024

For the vast majority of Americans who support legal abortion in cases of rape, there is a visceral horror evoked by the news that, in the months since the Supreme Court, in Dobbs, ended the constitutional right to an abortion, rape has led to an estimated 65,000 pregnancies in states where abortion is banned. Part of the horror reflects a gut sense that it would be particularly hard, and therefore cruel, to force someone to continue a pregnancy under those circumstances.

But how does it feel to be forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy under “ordinary” circumstances? Forced pregnancy has become commonplace, yet there is almost no research documenting the mental health impact of abortion bans.

Continued: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/02/abortion-bans-forced-pregnancy-mental-health.html

01.02.2024

Commentary

abortion denial and mental health

abortion for mental health

The Real Consequences Of Getting ― Or Being Denied ― An Abortion

It’s time to put to rest the myth that abortion hurts women.

By Melissa Jeltsen, HuffPost US
09/06/2020

For decades, anti-abortion activists have argued that abortion is harmful to
women, claiming that it often leads to regret, mental health issues and dependence
on drugs and alcohol. Even former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy bought
into this reasoning, writing in 2007 that those who have abortions may
experience “severe depression” and a loss of self-esteem.

That thinking has been used to justify onerous abortion restrictions, such as
long waiting periods, that can make it harder to obtain the procedure and even
effectively bar it for some.

Continued: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/myth-abortion-hurts-women_n_5f52647bc5b6578026cd5e51

The Pro Life Campaign’s definition of love is cruel

The Pro Life Campaign’s definition of love is cruel
Diarmaid Ferriter: It is a strange kind of love that denies a teenage rape victim an abortion

Sat, Apr 21, 2018
Diarmaid Ferriter

Speaking at the unveiling of the Pro Life Campaign’s “Love Both” campaign during the week, spokeswoman Caroline Simons said: “Voters who support abortion in limited circumstances need to know that what they hope for with repeal and what they get are two entirely different things.”

What astounding arrogance. Simons has decided that those who will vote for the removal of the amendment have no independence of mind and are naive, delusional dupes who will vote next month unaware of the reality of what they are doing and devoid of a capacity for love. She has also decided what they hope for.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/the-pro-life-campaign-s-definition-of-love-is-cruel-1.3468389

New Zealand: Denied abortion: Woman discovers pregnancy at 4 months, 2 weeks

Denied abortion: Woman discovers pregnancy at 4 months, 2 weeks
15 Oct, 2017
By: Sarah Harris
Reporter, NZ Herald

Erica never wanted children.

Certainly not aged 22, on minimum wage as a waitress, regularly binge-drinking alcohol, and without a partner.

But the Auckland woman discovered when she was 18 weeks along that she was pregnant.

She tried to get an abortion but says she was told it was too late.

Continued at source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11928010

Queensland Prisoner Pregnant With Twins Is Denied An Abortion

Queensland Prisoner Pregnant With Twins Is Denied An Abortion
This is why those archaic abortion laws really do matter - by Alley Pascoe

Sep 6, 2017

A Queensland woman diagnosed with schizophrenia has been denied an abortion for an unwanted twin pregnancy because a tribunal ruled she did “not have the capacity to make complex decisions about all of her personal matters due to her diagnosed mental illness.”

The 33-year-old woman, known as QDB, is living at a mental health facility and undergoing treatment for schizophrenia after being jailed for breaching bail conditions involving drug use, reports the ABC.

Continued at source: Marie Claire: https://www.marieclaire.com.au/article/news/queensland-prisoner-pregnant-with-twins-is-denied-an-abortion

Mental health experts ‘shocked’ by lack of abortion in Ireland

Mental health experts ‘shocked’ by lack of abortion in Ireland
‘Every woman who travels from Ireland for an abortion – their mental health is affected’

Mon, Feb 27, 2017
by Anthea McTeirnan

“You cannot separate out the issue of having no reproductive rights from a woman’s mental health,” Veronica O’Keane, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, has told the latest episode of The Women’s Podcast.

“Every single woman and girl who travels out of Ireland for an abortion – their mental health will be affected by having to take that trip. And the more vulnerable a person is in terms of their mental health, the worse trauma that is going to be for them.”

Continued at source: Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/mental-health-experts-shocked-by-lack-of-abortion-in-ireland-1.2991006#.WLU6-0svMnB.facebook