A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research analyzed 1.2 million pregnancies in the province of Quebec, Canada.
Researchers found that women who had an induced abortion experienced higher rates of hospitalization for psychiatric disorders, substance use, and suicide attempts compared with women who carried pregnancies to term. Risks were highest within five years, especially for women under 25 or with preexisting mental health conditions, and largely diminished after 17 years.
The findings underscore the importance of mental health support for women following abortion.
Read the study here.