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For Immediate Release
August 13, 2008
Contact: Aspen Baker
Phone: 510-446-7900
Email: aspen@4exhale.org
APA Report on Mental Health and Abortion:
Sheds New Light on Emotional Experiences of Abortion
Exhale's Executive Director, Aspen Baker, calls the report "A good start.”
Oakland, CA - Oakland-based Exhale, the country's first and only nationwide non-judgmental after-abortion talkline, commends the American Psychological Association (APA) for completing an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the connections between mental health and abortion.
Abortion touches the lives of millions of women and their families, therefore it is critical that each person"s emotional experience of abortion, especially their mental health afterward, be researched and addressed in order to promote their well-being. The APA report brings attention to an important emotional health issue that is too often overlooked in the polarized political debate over abortion.
The APA report explored important questions about the impact of abortion on a woman’s mental health and concluded that while abortion alone cannot be scientifically proven to cause mental illness or disorders, it often has an emotional impact.
“Exhale was created to respond and support the range of experiences women and men can have after an abortion. We have always understood that each person’s experience with abortion is unique and that the best way to support well-being after an abortion is to provide support that is tailored to the individual needs and life experiences of each person. The APA report confirms our approach,” says Exhale’s Executive Director, Aspen Baker.
“The report is a good start,” says Baker, “for understanding the various factors that can impact each woman’s emotional experience of abortion. More is needed. Research that tests and evaluates the effectiveness of counseling strategies and interventions as well as self-help tools that are used to promote the well-being of women who have had abortions, is critical for the future of women’s health and well-being. Exhale will be the first to sign up for these studies. Moving forward, every person and organization that cares about women who have abortions must prioritize the reduction of any negative mental health outcomes after abortion and work to increase the individual coping skills of women, improve the institutional responses of healthcare providers, and help build a more supportive social and cultural environment for women who have had abortions.” August 13, 2008
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