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Women sitting on sofa, looking sad, head in hand, obviously distraught, struggling with post abortion stress.

The Unspoken Crisis

Let’s face it—abortion is often framed as a quick solution, a simple “choice.” But for many women, the aftermath tells a different story. At our agency, we’ve worked with countless pregnancy centers who hear the same thing: “No one told me how I’d feel after.”
The emotional and mental health risks associated with abortion are real. They’re not just stories—they’re backed by research, and we believe women deserve to know the full picture before making life-altering decisions.

The Hidden Weight of Abortion: Mental Health at Risk

Women who undergo abortions—especially under pressure or without proper support—can experience a profound emotional impact. While abortion advocates often claim the procedure is mentally neutral or even beneficial, data increasingly shows otherwise. A 2016 analysis using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health found that each abortion exposure increased the likelihood of mental health disorders by 23%—even when factoring in other variables like previous mental illness (Coleman, 2016). A more recent 2023 study reinforced this reality: women who felt pressured into abortion were significantly more likely to report emotional and psychological distress afterward. The American Psychological Association (APA) also recognizes that abortion-related distress is often linked to external pressures, stigma, or a prior desire to carry the pregnancy to term.
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What the Research Says: 3 Major Mental Health Risks

1. Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety
A 2011 British Journal of Psychiatry meta-analysis revealed that women who aborted were:

  • 37% more likely to experience depression
  • 34% more likely to suffer from anxiety compared to women who carried to term (Coleman, 2011).

These effects can be compounded when the abortion is not freely chosen or when support systems are absent.

2. Substance Abuse and Self-Destructive Behavior
Abortion is also linked with an increased risk of substance misuse:

  • Twice as likely to abuse alcohol
  • 2.5 times more likely to misuse marijuana
  • Over three times more likely to use illicit drugs
  • (Source: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health)

This behavior can often be a coping mechanism—an effort to numb pain that was never addressed or even acknowledged.

3. Suicide and Risk of Premature Death
Possibly the most devastating statistic: multiple studies, including data from the U.S., Finland, and Italy, show that women who have had abortions are 2–6 times more likely to die by suicide within a year compared to women who gave birth. The risk of premature death from all causes also increases significantly after an abortion.
One Southern Medical Journal study reported that the rate of suicide after abortion is six times higher than after childbirth (Reardon et al., 2002).

The Unique Pain of Coerced or Unwanted Abortions

 

More than 60% of women say they felt pressured into abortion, according to a survey conducted by the Charlotte Lozier Institute. The pressure may come from partners, family, employers, or circumstances.
Even more heartbreaking: 67% said the abortion was not consistent with their values or was simply unwanted.
When women are pushed into abortion, the psychological toll is even heavier—manifesting as guilt, grief, and unresolved trauma. For many, this emotional pain shows up months or years later, often unrecognized and untreated.

women seeming to be sad or upset, man seeming to be dominant. When women are faced with choosing abortion because of a partner, emotional challenges are inevitable.

There Is Hope: Healing Is Possible

Here’s what we tell every pregnancy center we work with: You are not just offering services—you are offering sanctuary.
Women can heal after abortion. With the right support system—counseling, community, faith-based healing programs, and post-abortion recovery groups—there is hope.
We recommend programs like:

  • Rachel’s Vineyard
  • Support After Abortion
  • Surrendering the Secret
  • Healing Hearts Ministries
    An Even Place

These ministries have helped countless women reclaim joy, rebuild their lives, and find peace with God.

To Our Pregnancy Help Center Partners: You Are Vital

If you work in a pregnancy center, please hear this from our hearts: your work matters. You are on the front lines—not just of saving lives, but of restoring hearts. Every brochure, every conversation, every ultrasound, every follow-up call is a seed of truth and love. In a world quick to push “solutions,” you offer something radical: support, empathy, and a path toward real healing.
You might not see the full fruit today. But eternity will show your impact.

  • Coleman, P.K. (2016). Abortion and mental health: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. SAGE Open Medicine.
  • Coleman, P.K. (2011). Abortion and mental health: Quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry.
  • Reardon, D.C. et al. (2002). Deaths associated with pregnancy outcome: A record linkage study of low-income women. Southern Medical Journal.
  • American Psychological Association. (2008, updated). Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion.
  • Charlotte Lozier Institute (2021). Women’s Emotional Responses to Abortion: Survey Results.