Ashli Blake was just 13-years-old when she started dating Marcus Webb, who was four years older than her. Despite their tumultuous relationship, the two continued dating.
“The mother was not happy with the relationship because of the age gap,” reports said. “She allowed him to come to the house but he was not allowed in her bedroom. She even told him ‘you should not be sleeping with my daughter because of her age.’”
Soon, the couple found out that they were having a baby.
Ashli’s wanted to keep it and continue the pregnancy.
Her mother, however, did not, especially since she didn’t approve of her daughter’s relationship with the older teen. In the end, Ashli succumbed to the pressure put on her by her mother and underwent an abortion.
READ: 5 ways you’re teaching your child about sex and don’t know it
Marcus didn’t take the news lightly. After the abortion, he sent Ashli a Mother’s Day card, mocking her decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Two years later, Ashli jumped to her death from a tower after sending Marcus a text message. “If we can’t be together I don’t want to be here,” said a part of the text.
Suicide and abortion
Women who have aborted their unborn babies are at a higher risk of committing suicide.
According to British Medical Journal, women who had abortions were seven times more likely to commit suicide than women who gave birth.
Meanwhile, a 2013 Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council report revealed that suicide is the leading cause of death in women within 42 days after their pregnancy and between 43 days and 365 days after their pregnancy.
“There appears to be a significant worldwide risk of maternal suicide following termination of pregnancy and, in fact, a higher risk than that following term delivery.”
Additional reports from British Journal of Psychiatry also found that women who aborted were 81 percent more likely to experience mental health problems, and that 55 percent more likely to have problems compared to women who delivered an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
“The potential for depression and other mental health issues at this time needs to be better appreciated,” said the same Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council report.
“Active follow-up of these women needs to happen. Practitioners referring women for termination of pregnancy or undertaking termination of pregnancy should ensure adequate follow-up for such women, especially if the procedure is undertaken for mental health concerns.”
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