The Mental Health Cost of Abortion Bans for Patients — and Physicians
Since the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, clinicians in abortion-restricted states have reported double the moral distress, and patients are experiencing increased mental health issues due to abortion bans. A study found a 6% increase in annual suicide rates among women in states with enforced abortion restrictions.
The US Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ended the constitutional right to abortion, profoundly changing maternal-fetal medicine practices. Clinicians in abortion-restricted states reported double the moral distress compared to peers in states without such restrictions. Patients are experiencing mental health issues, including anxiety about future reproductive decisions and fear of adverse outcomes. A 2022 study found a 6% increase in annual suicide rates among women in states with enforced abortion restrictions. Thirteen states have total abortion bans with limited exceptions, and only Alabama includes an exception for serious psychiatric illness. Mental health conditions are a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality, accounting for about 23% of maternal deaths.
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