On behalf of the SLMH Board of Directors, and the SLMH Leadership Team:

South Lane Mental Health joins with the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, and the National Association of Social Work in its full opposition to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate guaranteed access to essential reproductive health care. We agree with the AMA when it asserts the public health danger created by this decision, one that will “lead to government interference in the patient-physician relationship, dangerous intrusion into the practice of medicine, and potentially criminalizing care.” We agree with the APA when it asserts the mental health dangers created by the assault on bodily autonomy that “ignores not only precedent but science and will exacerbate the mental health crisis America is already experiencing.” We agree with the ACA when it asserts “we can expect an increase in economic hardship and insecurity that may lead to increased stress, lower life satisfaction, decreased work productivity, increased turnover, and decreased mental well-being. We agree with the NASW when it declares that “all individuals have a right to bodily autonomy, that abortion is health care, and that all individuals have the right to freedom of choice in accessing essential health care services most especially their reproductive health.” Last, we agree with the AOA in their support of the position to support the sanctity and privacy of the patient-physician relationship. “We denounce any federal or state legislative or administrative action that interferes with that relationship. We also condemn any attempts to criminalize or impose civil penalties on physicians for the provision of physician-level care.”  

South Lane Mental Health is both a Mental Health and Public Health institution, and as such, we endorse the positions of these public and mental health governing bodies. SLMH affirms the bodily autonomy and reproductive health care rights of all women.

American Medical Association Statement:  https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ruling-egregious-allowance-government-intrusion-medicine

American Psychological Association Statement:   https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2022/06/scotus-abortion-decision

National Association of Social Workers Statement: https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Policy-Issues/Reproductive-Rights-Are-Human-Rights

American Optometric Association Statement  AOA statement on Supreme Court repeal of Roe V. Wade – American Osteopathic Association