Women with restricted abortion access may face higher suicide risk – study

Research shows anti-abortion laws may have affected suicide rates among reproductive-aged women from 1974 to 2016

Women with restricted access to abortion during the last 40 years may have faced a higher risk of suicide, according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania.

Abortion restriction laws may have influenced suicide rates among reproductive-aged women from 1974 to 2016, according to a study released Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry.

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 and online chat is also available. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org