Are Abortions Traumatising?
There are many myths in relation to how abortion can impact someone’s mental health. One persistent myth is that having an abortion is something that will harm the pregnant person mentally, and cause them trauma.
In relation to abortion and mental health, The American Psychological Society has concluded that:
“Large longitudinal and international studies have found that obtaining a wanted abortion does not increase risk for depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.”
This research was predominantly based on a ground-breaking longitudinal study with abortion seekers, known as ‘The Turnaway Study.’ In short, the findings reflected the reality that for most women, an abortion is not inherently traumatic, nor does it cause ongoing mental health crises. In fact, it reflected that the opposite is true – that the mental health of abortion seekers who were denied an abortion is most negatively affected.
Women and pregnant people often report a variety of mixed feelings after an abortion, including relief as a dominant emotion. However, this does not mean that everyone experiences abortion in the same way, nor does it mean that everyone experiences exactly the same emotions or trajectories post-abortion. Some abortion-seekers report challenging feelings post-abortion in relation to their individual circumstances.
Personal, familial, cultural and social factors will all impact on an individual’s decisions regarding abortion. It may be helpful to explore this with a non-judgmental friend, family member, community member or counsellor. It is extremely important that people can exercise their autonomy and are free from coercion in relation to this decision. The best mental health outcomes are seen in people who receive the support they need, to make a decision in a timely, autonomous manner.
You can find some accredited non-directive pregnancy options counsellors by contacting 1800 My Options or searching online.
The Abortion Project offers some post-abortion peer-support groups in some states of Australia.
The Royal Women’s Hospital and Children By Choice have some great activities to help you explore your pregnancy options in relation to an unintended, unwanted, or unplanned pregnancy:
