As the dust settles from the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, experts are growing increasingly concerned with the negative impact the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade may have on the mental health and well-being of college students, particularly those from marginalized communities including first generation students, LGBTQ+ students, and students with fewer resources.
Dr. Sharon Custer, director of the family science and social work field education, partnership specialist, and community justice and wellbeing liaison at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Denying abortion to those seeking care has been shown to not only increase an individual’s anxiety, it also decreases their satisfaction in life and self-esteem.
“Ninety-five percent of people do not regret the choice to terminate their pregnancies,” said Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer of The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit organization working to improve mental health and prevent suicides among young people. “In addition to affecting individuals negatively, the larger political change of banning abortions sends a message to people that they don’t have autonomy over their own bodies anymore.”
Erickson-Schroth added that the Dobbs decision will place extra barriers and burdens onto those already negatively impacted by discrimination.
“Trans men and nonbinary folks living in states with abortion bans will be placed in a difficult situation,” said Erickson-Schroth. “They will now face a new myriad of physical, social and economic challenges, including the possibility of traveling long distances for an abortion. If traveling to other states for abortions, trans folks will have to seek out providers in new areas where they may not know how supportive the providers will be of their identities.”
Custer added that the ruling will affect women of color and first generation, lower-income students, those with no access to strong support networks or financial resources. “I don’t think colleges are prepared for this," said Custer.
