It’s no surprise that women can come to regret their abortions. Despite what abortion activists like to claim, it’s not an unusual occurrence, especially among women who were lied to or manipulated by the “counselors” at their abortion clinic. Yet pro-abortion extremists never want to acknowledge that women may regret their abortions, or be negatively affected by them; they like to claim that everything is sunshine and roses after an abortion, because for them, abortion fixes everything.
Unfortunately, the reality can be much more tragic.
Jade Rees was a 21-year-old student and mother of one. She had been dating someone for five months when he broke up with her and began dating someone else. On top of that, when she tried to visit the bar they used to go to together, she found that he had insisted she be banned from the premises. Rees was also pregnant. She ended up having an abortion – and not long after, she was dead, haunted by the decision she had made. She hanged herself while playing Ed Sheeran’s song “Little Bump,” which he wrote after a friend of his had a miscarriage.
This is a heartbreaking tragedy, something that no one should ever have to go through. But thanks to the predatory abortion industry, far too many women do.
Rees had a history of eating disorders and depression, information that should have barred her from being able to have an abortion, due to the long-term consequences associated with these conditions and abortion. And as is all too typical, she likely wasn’t given any kind of follow-up care.
Abortionists collect the money, perform the procedure, and then send women on their way – sometimes still bleeding and in pain – and without the slightest bit of concern for how their patients are coping days or weeks later. Why should they? They got paid. That’s all that matters.
Sadly, Rees is not alone. There are countless other women who have committed suicide after having an abortion. One notable case is that of Charlotte Dawson, a model and judge of Australia’s Next Top Model. In her autobiography, Dawson said she had an abortion because her ex-husband thought a pregnancy would interfere with his Olympic career, even though she wanted a baby – and that her struggle with depression was because of the abortion.
Ashli Blake is another heart-wrenching example. Blake was 13 when she got pregnant, and was pressured to have an abortion by her mother, even though she wanted to keep the baby. After the abortion, her boyfriend made fun of her, even sending her a Mother’s Day card in a horrific act of cruelty. Two years later, she killed herself.
Even more women attempt suicide after an abortion, like the teenager who fell into depression and tried to kill herself after being coerced into an abortion by her boyfriend. One woman tried to kill herself after clinic counselors lied to her about her baby’s development, and still struggles with nightmares and depression.
And while abortion activists won’t want to acknowledge it, it’s not uncommon for women to have negative psychological consequences after an abortion. It’s a fact that women who have abortions are at higher risk for mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicidal behavior. In fact, 29 out of 30 studies have found a high risk of psychological trauma after abortion. For someone like Rees, who already struggled with depression, it was catastrophic.
Will the abortion industry care about Jade Rees, and the women like her? It seems unlikely; they prey on vulnerable women, and do whatever they can to make the sale – lie, manipulate, and pressure this woman who is, in many cases, scared and alone, or feeling forced into the abortion as it is.
It’s because of women like Jade that it’s so vital for pro-lifers to reach out to these women with love. We should also support organizations like Rachel’s Vineyard, which offers healing and support for women who have had abortions. It is a safe place where women can find renewal and rebuild their hearts after they have been destroyed by abortion. Women can speak openly about their emotions surrounding their abortion, and face not judgment, but compassion and caring. Rachel’s Vineyard will also connect post-abortive women to counseling to help them heal from their psychological trauma. OptionLine (with options to chat online, text, or call) can also often connect women with a pregnancy resource center in their area that has a post-abortion recovery program.
An unplanned or crisis pregnancy can be terrifying. There’s no doubt about that. But abortion is not the answer, and it can lead to even more suffering for women who are desperate and scared. We are failing not only our children, but also women who need us to be there for them during what could very well be the most difficult time of their lives. We shouldn’t be forcing women into a situation where they’re told that the only cure is violence, while we abandon them afterwards to cope with the loss of their child on their own.
We can do better. We must do better.
