June 24th marked one year since the United States Supreme Court passed down its decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The case questioned the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that banned abortion after 15 weeks gestation and, ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that the right to abortion and the parameters set out in Roe v. Wade (1973) and subsequent cases like Planned Parenthood v. Casey are not constitutionally protected and that rulemaking on abortion rights shall sit with individual states. 

Turning over nearly 50 years of legal precedent which protected, to some extent, individuals’ ability to make autonomous decisions for livelihoods, their bodies, and their futures raises significant concern for mental health professionals. The American Psychological Association noted unease about the impact restricted abortion access can have on mental health – research has shown that “people who are denied abortions are more likely to experience higher levels of anxiety, lower life satisfaction and lower self-esteem compared with those who are able to obtain abortions.”

All individuals do not uniformly experience the consequences of abortion bans; race, income, and geographic proximity influence one's access to abortion and reproductive healthcare. A representative at Headspace Health pointed out that "women of color face more structural barriers to care to begin with, and those inequities are exacerbated when these policies further diminish their power and bodily autonomy.” Transgender and non-binary folks can also encounter significant obstacles when accessing abortion. 

The 988 Lifeline can play an integral role in supporting folks who have limited access to abortion, have been denied an abortion, and have experienced a difficult pregnancy or pregnancy loss. People who call the Lifeline distressed about their pregnancy and birthing experience deserve genuine compassion, understanding, and affirmation that their emotions and feelings are valid.