A letter signed by fifteen psychologists, psychiatrists, and other health professionals and published in The Times of London reports on new findings published in a scholarly journal of psychology.

Research published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in January has shown that even women without past mental health problems are at risk of psychological ill-effects after abortion. Women who had had abortions had twice the level of mental health problems and three times the risk of major depressive illness as those who had given birth or never been pregnant.

This research has prompted the American Psychological Association to withdraw an official statement denying a link between abortion and psychological harm.

Since women having abortions can no longer be said to have a low risk of suffering from psychiatric conditions such as depression, doctors have a duty to advise about long-term adverse psychological consequences of abortion.

The writers call on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Psychiatrists to amend their guidelines regarding what information should be provided to women considering abortion.

The new psychological research corroborates recent studies showing that women who have had abortions are more likely to suffer depression and other mental health problems.

h/t: LifeNews and Pearcey Report.

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