Abortion Doubles Mental Health Hospitalizations Quebec Study

Multiple recent studies have found that women who undergo abortions face a significantly higher risk of mental health-related hospitalizations compared to those who carry pregnancies to term. Research involving over 1.2 million pregnancies in Quebec, Canada, revealed that women who had abortions were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide attempts, especially within five years following the abortion. The risk was notably higher among women under 25 years of age and those with preexisting mental health conditions, though it gradually decreased over time, becoming comparable to childbirth outcomes after about 17 years. These findings have fueled ongoing debates between pro-life groups, who emphasize mental health risks associated with abortion, and pro-choice organizations like Planned Parenthood, which acknowledge short-term emotional responses but downplay long-term mental health impacts. Experts have highlighted the importance of screening for mental health disorders at the time of abortion to provide psychological and social support to at-risk women. The comprehensive nature of these studies, which control for prior mental health history, strengthens the evidence linking abortion to increased mental health challenges.