Read more comments from Dr. Theresa Burke

Staten Island, NY – Leaders of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, the world’s largest network of individuals harmed by abortion, today slammed a new Danish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that purports to show that abortion does not increase the risk of subsequent mental health problems.

“This so-called study doesn’t consider women who have emotional or mental health problems after an abortion, but who don’t check themselves into psychiatric hospitals or clinics,” said Janet Morana, co-founder of the SNMAC.  “If you suffer depression because of your abortion, turn to drugs or alcohol, or have suicidal thoughts and don’t seek professional help, this study counts you as being just fine.”

The study examined the health records of Danish women who had first trimester abortions and who had not had prior abortions.  It measured how many of these women went to psychiatric hospitals or outpatient clinics within one year of their abortions.

“It’s as if the people who designed this report set it up to exclude women at the greatest risk to suffer post-abortion problems – those having repeat abortions or having abortions after thirteen weeks of pregnancy,” added Georgette Forney, another SNMAC co-founder.  “Frankly, for the thousands of us who have stepped forward publicly and the many more who endure the pain of abortion privately, it’s outrageous to hear abortion apologists say that we don’t exist.”

Dr. Alveda King, a SNMAC spokeswoman, also commented on the structure of the study.  “I know from my own experience that the weight and trauma of your abortion may not hit you until long after it’s over.  For this study to exclude the many women like me only tells me that it was not looking for the truth.”

Dr. Theresa Burke, psychologist, author, and founder of the Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries for post-abortive women and men, adds to Dr. King’s comments.  “I’ve spent the last 25 years counseling women whose hearts and minds have been fractured by abortion.  For many women, the traumatic nature of their abortion is not fully released until some subsequent event triggers a fuller understanding of everything that has happened.  Any study that pretends that to destroy one’s baby is normal and psychologically, emotionally and spiritually free of any negative consequences is rubbish.”

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Since the launching of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign in 2003, 3,877 women and men have shared their testimonies publicly at over 572 gatherings in 48 states and ten countries where more than 110,830 attendees have heard the truth about abortion’s negative aftereffects.  More than 9,027 people are registered to be Silent No More.  Raising awareness about the hurtful aftermath of abortion and the help that is available to cope with the pain are two of the Campaign’s goals. 

The Silent No More Awareness Campaign is a joint project of Anglicans for Life and Priests for Life.  For more information, please visit our website: www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org