In Newsweek, Maureen Curley, a psychiatric nurse-practitioner in Cleveland, writes about some of the potentially grave dangers to mention health for women that come with abortion, as Ohio votes on an amendment that would obliterate parental-consent laws, among other protections for girls — in addition to the unborn.

Numerous studies have found that women who have abortions show higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse in comparison to those who carry their child to term. Additionally, occurrences of destructive behavior and suicide are almost six times higher among women who have an abortion compared to those who deliver their child.

Abortion proponents often ignore these studies and deny that women suffer any negative mental health effects after abortion. But my years of clinical experience echo the data that reveals this association.

Abortions that happen after babies can feel pain in the womb also bring lasting mental anguish to the women who have them. Those who have abortions in the second or third trimesters—as the amendment in my home state of Ohio would allow—are at the highest risk of mental health problems and psychological distress after the procedure.

Unfortunately, a large majority of women who seek abortions do so because they feel pressured or coerced into undergoing the procedure. While some may think that ending the life of a child will save the mother from heartache and grief down the road, they are gravely mistaken. Instead, these women are put at greater risk of severe mental health complications and threats to their health.

The proposed Ohio amendment could open more young girls up to pressure from abusive partners and traffickers by erasing parental consent laws and keeping parents in the dark if their young daughter is considering abortion.

The truth is, parents are a key source of support for their children in these situations. They can help identify and prevent the mental anguish that their young daughters could face due to abortion. It’s well known that young women—specifically those between the ages of 20 and 25—experience the highest rates of abortion, the highest rates of mental health disorders from abortions, and the highest rates of repeat abortions.