Acknowledge the hidden grief of abortion

What has helped them?

First, a simple acknowledgment of their grief - it is natural to mourn the loss of a child.

Second, offering counselling support or psychotherapy to work through all the issues surrounding the loss and its impact on their lives and relationships.

Third, providing opportunities to formally mourn the child. Clients can be assisted to develop their own rituals, or they may wish to participate in a non-denominational remembrance service arranged by Open Doors where various ceremonies including the opportunity to formally name the child can assist in grief resolution.

For others who seek healing with a spiritual focus, Open Doors provides an intensive non-denominational weekend retreat called Rachel’s Vineyard. Women, men and couples are all able to attend. Working though a regretted abortion takes courage but, like all experiences of intense pain, brings its own growth.

Abortion grief is under reported because to acknowledge it is to open up deep wounds that are complicated in part by one’s own past actions and by the taboos surrounding the issue.  Abortion grief is under supported because health professionals tend to take the line of least resistance and direct women straight to abortion clinics where the seeds of silence are first sown. Why offer support for something that doesn’t exist?

Awareness and acknowledgement of grief paves the way for healing. So let’s not forget the hidden grief of abortion. Many of the people around us may be struggling silently with this pain today.