Abortion is a 'serious risk to mental health and can make suicide six times more likely'

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Trevor Stammers, a tutor in general practice at St George's University of London, was speaking in support of a bill to be tabled in the House of Commons, which would ensure women are counselled about the possible consequences of abortion before terminating an unborn child.

Conservative backbencher Ann Winterton's bill would require women to be told of the possible ill-effects of abortion and to be made to wait a week to allow time for second thoughts before going ahead.

At a press conference called by Ms Winterton in the House of Commons, Dr Stammers said that in 26 years in medical practice, he had treated many women suffering from depression relating to previous abortions.

And consultant gynaecologist Dr Robert Balfour cited a study of 5,000 women in Finland between 1987 and 2000, which found those who had an abortion were six times more likely to commit suicide than those who had given birth in the past year.

Dr Balfour said that statistics from his home area of south Wales suggested that there were more psychiatric admissions and suicides among women who had abortions than those who gave birth.

Ms Winterton's Termination of Pregnancy(Counselling and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill would also require doctors to state specifically whether abortions are being performed on physical or mental grounds.

Explaining his support for the Winterton bill, Dr Stammers said: "The most recent research has shown very clearly that abortion presents a serious risk to the long-term mental health of women and why it is therefore important to know which women are being offered abortion on mental health grounds."

Dr Balfour said: "We are now at a crossroads. In recognition of this mounting and overwhelming evidence it is essential that women are made aware of these risks. It is important that they receive adequate, informed counselling."