Royal college warns abortions can lead to mental illness

[bijou]

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.

MPs will shortly vote on a proposal to reduce the upper time limit for abortions “for social reasons” from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, a move not backed by the government. A Sunday Times poll today shows 59% of women would support such a reduction, with only 28% backing the status quo. Taken together, just under half (48%) of men and women want a reduction to 20 weeks, while 35% want to retain 24 weeks.

Some MPs also want women to have a “cooling off” period in which they would be made aware of the possible consequences of the abortion, including the impact on their mental health, before they could go ahead.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3559486.ece

[Chris_]

You need a psychiatrist to tell you that you might have some mental issues if you kill your unborn child? Please! You can try and convince yourself it's just a piece of tissue but unless you're truly a cold, heartless bitch (in which case you shouldn't be a parent anyway) you'll have to come to terms with what you've done. Murders of convenience are soul killers.

Cindie

[phillygirl]

I think most women who have abortions have a difficult time coming to that decision.  I also believe that if that "cooling off" period were enforced there would be fewer abortions as women would have the opportunity to think about the decision a bit more clearly.  I used to be involved with a non-denominational, non-political, pro-life group whose sole purpose was to try to help women to make the right decision.  I still contribute so I get their newsletter every month.  It is amazing the stories of women who came there simply to get their immediate needs met (a pregnancy test, referrals for financial assistance, etc.) and left with the decision to have the baby.  I have seen several of these young women speak about the experience.

Screaming "baby killer" at them isn't what works.  Giving them some time, attention, accurate information about their options, as well as the status of the "fetus" they are carrying is what works.  It is precisely why the pro-choice groups are so opposed to giving them just that.

[PatriotGame]

You need a psychiatrist to tell you that you might have some mental issues if you kill your unborn child? Please! You can try and convince yourself it's just a piece of tissue but unless you're truly a cold, heartless bitch (in which case you shouldn't be a parent anyway) you'll have to come to terms with what you've done. Murders of convenience are soul killers.

Cindie

I agree - which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Any woman that would willfully slaughter her very own child has got to have a mental illness.