Mental health crisis warning
Doctor concerned patients needing post-abortion support will surge
A CAIRNS doctor has warned the Far North’s mental health services will be stretched once abortion is legalised in Queensland.
Abortion is set to be decriminalised in Queensland and safe zones enforced under new laws to be introduced to state parliament in August.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk released the Queensland Law Reform Commission’s review of the state’s abortion laws on Monday, announcing Cabinet had accepted all of its recommendations.
Cairns GP Dr Tim Coyle, a vocal opponent of decriminalising abortion, said he was concerned the move could lead to a massive increase in patients requiring post-abortion psychological support.
“There’s many, many unwanted abortions because of the pressures mothers are under these days – financial, social, work-related, family pressures,” he said.
“Those are the sort of pressures that should be addressed in pre-abortion counselling.
“I don’t believe that the counselling that exists is adequate because there’s so much post-abortion distress.
“This will certainly make our current mental health services worse.”
Cairns Pro Choice member Dr Heather McNamee said they were delighted Labor was rapidly acting on the recommendations from the QLRC.
The local GP said this was a major win for Queenslanders, however there needed to be greater support in the Far North for patients requiring surgical abortions.
“We have a private gynaecologist prepared to offer that service, but Queensland Health have been very slow to act on that,” she said.
“We’re hoping this movement with the law will have a cascade effect and they will put more effort into sorting out the surgical problem.”