Dr. Anthony McCarthy:

In general because of how we are as a society and have been for such a long time, people are not really thinking about that issue. I would not want to generalise, but it is for the individual person and whether she is really thinking in that way. What is really likely to matter is the views of those who are close to them or if there was some really publicly severe opinion. What comes out in research is that if her partner or a family member is really critical of them, that can be very difficult. If there is an argument, and sometimes I will witness argument and a lot of conflict from a parent or from a partner, that is likely to add to the emotional distress that is involved. This research has never been conducted in Ireland, but we have American research looking at those going to abortion clinics in the US, where there is very public protest with people outside these clinics protesting and trying to stop abortions. For the person who is desperate or wants a termination, that sort of protest will not help them, or help their mental health. We know that if women have a mental health problem as a result of that experience, even in any future pregnancy, that mental health issue may become relevant again.