Victorian Liberal MP, Bernie Finn, has not wasted any time in highlighting the problem of abortion during the first week of Parliamentary sitting (on February 9, 2012). He provided a summary of the research conducted by Dr. Priscilla Coleman - which was recently published in the highly respected British Journal of Psychiatry (August, 2011).
Mr. Finn provided alarming statistics from this study, revealing the psychological risks of abortion to women and has asked the Minister for Mental Health, Mary Wooldridge, to establish post abortion counselling services in Victoria.
There were no interjections made and Mr Finn said "You could have heard a pin drop! "
Read his address here:
Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) — I have a
matter for the attention of the Minister for Mental
Health. I draw the minister’s attention to an extensive
study by US university professor Priscilla Coleman,
which was published in the prestigious British Journal
of Psychiatry late last year. Professor Coleman
performed a meta-analysis of 22 studies, which tracked
a total of 877 181 women, 163 831 of whom were post
abortive. This was clearly no small study and the results
were truly illuminating. My understanding is that it is
the largest study of its kind ever conducted in the world.
The results of this study are disturbing, but as I say they
are quite illuminating. The study found that women
with an abortion history experienced 81 per cent
increased risk of mental health problems. It found an
increased risk of anxiety disorders in the order of 34 per
cent, an increased risk of depression of 37 per cent, an
increased risk of alcohol use and abuse of 110 per cent
and an increased risk of marijuana use and abuse of
220 per cent. When compared to unintended
pregnancies that were delivered, women who
terminated had a 55 per cent increased risk of mental
health problems. Alarmingly nearly 10 per cent of all
mental health problems were found to be directly
attributable to abortion. These figures certainly shocked
me and I think they would shock most people,
particularly so when we realise that Australian women
were included in this study.
Given the results of this survey, it is clear that
considerable numbers of women here in Victoria may
be suffering at least some mental health problems
following abortions, particularly since 2008, because
the number of late-term abortions has skyrocketed since
that time following the passing of the Abortion Law
Reform Act 2008, which allows abortion in this state up
until birth. As a result of that, many women may need
assistance. Today I am asking the minister to provide
that assistance. I am convinced that post-abortion
counselling services are much needed in Victoria, and I
ask the minister to facilitate the provision of these
services to ease the burden felt by so many women
following their abortions".
Please support the courageous efforts of Bernie Finn by continuing to contact:
Premier Baillieu: http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/contact.html
and
Victorian Health Minister, David Davis: http://www.vic.gov.au/contactsandservices/directory/?ea0_lfz99_120.&organizationalRole&b72724f2-1db2-4b9f-b226-7f05e1c8ad54
Vic Hansard link: ( http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Council_2012/Council_Feb-Jun_2012_Daily_9_February_2012.pdf - pg 75)
