On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court's ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion, and leaving access to abortion services up to the discretion of individual states.
This decision holds devastating consequences for women’s physical and mental health. Companies and their leadership must be attuned to their role and responsibility to support employee mental health and wellbeing.
Reproductive rights are a workplace issue, and must be addressed in organizations that have committed to DEIB efforts to further racial and economic justice. There will be significant ramifications on the growing gender gap in the workplace, especially for Black, Indigenous, and other women of color who already face disproportionate challenges at work.
Time.com shared that there is "unprecedented pressure on businesses to lead in reproductive rights, similar to how they’ve had to step up on mental health, caregiving, and racial justice in earnest over the past few years."
Companies are catalysts for culture change and must take a stand both internally and externally—especially when the majority of Americans support abortion being legal and everything that is on the line following this precedent.
Mind Share Partners condemns the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe V. Wade. As a female-founded organization, we continue to stand with women and their human rights to make reproductive health care choices that are best for their health and their family.
We've curated this resources page to bring awareness to this issue, share ways employers can support their workforce and take a stand, and highlight resources supporting women's mental health at work.
I. Statistics On Mental Health And Abortion
Landmark research known as the Turnaway study found that women who were denied an abortion had more psychological problems in the short term than those who received one.
Women who were denied abortions were initially more likely to experience higher levels of anxiety, lower life satisfaction, and lower self-esteem compared with those who could obtain abortions.
The physical and financial harms of being denied an abortion can last for years.
The stigma related to having an abortion has a greater impact on well-being than the abortion itself. Most people considering abortion perceive some abortion stigma, which is associated with psychological distress years later.
The impacts of this ruling will fall hardest on people who already face discriminatory obstacles to health care—particularly Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, young people, undocumented people, and low-income households.
When women become mothers, the overall gender gap increases to 30%. Women were paid 22.1% less than men in 2021 in the US—that widens to 43% less for Hispanic women and 36% less for Black women.
“The bottom line is that abortion in and of itself does not cause mental health issues,” said M. Antonia Biggs, PhD, a psychologist and researcher at ANSIRH and one of the leaders of the Turnaway Study.
II. Frontline Groups: Where To Donate And Promote Employee Gift Matching
Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive healthcare, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.
National Network Of Abortion Funds. Abortion funds provide funding, travel, lodging, and other wrap-around supports. This network of abortion funds exists to fill the gaps in care and will continue working together in collaboration to make abortion access possible for anyone, where ever they live, and wherever they are seeking care.
The Brigid Alliance. The Brigid Alliance is a referral-based service that provides people seeking abortions with travel, food, lodging, child care, and other logistical support.
Center For Reproductive Rights. The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.
American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU has been at the center of nearly every major civil liberties battle in the U.S. for over 100 years.
Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project. WRRAP is a “non-partisan, nonprofit organization assisting women who are financially unable to pay for safe, legal abortions or emergency contraceptives.”
Indigenous Women Rising. Indigenous Women Rising is “committed to honoring Native & Indigenous People’s inherent right to equitable and culturally safe health options through accessible health education, resources and advocacy.”
Access Reproductive Care Southeast. Access Reproductive Care Southeast offers “funding and logistical support to ensure Southerners receive safe and compassionate reproductive care including abortion services.
Midwest Access Coalition. Midwest Access Coalition “helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest access a safe, legal abortion with support in the following areas: travel coordination and costs, lodging, food, medicine, and emotional support.”
Northwest Abortion Access Fund. The Northwest Abortion Access Fund serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, helping people pay for their abortion care by sending funding directly to the clinic as well as offering travel support.
III. Mental Health Organizations
Exhale Pro-Voice Counseling. Pro-Voice Counseling includes building a network of support for each person after-abortion. Exhale Pro-Voice’s free, national textline offers emotional support to individuals who have had abortions and to their allies.
The Women's Initiative. The Women’s Initiative provides vital mental health services regardless of ability to pay. Their counseling, social support and education programs serve more than 4,000 women annually.
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the mental health of mothers and childbearing people in the United States with a focus on national policy and health equity.
SeekHer Foundation. Through advocacy, research, and support for women-led communities, they are uplifting the voices that are powering women's mental health.
IV. Articles And Resources For Employers To Get Informed And Take Action
Activism:
Don’t Ban Equality. Organizations can join hundreds of notable companies and publicly demonstrate their commitment.
Articles:
"How Organizations Can Support Women’s Mental Health at Work" by Mind Share Partners' Founder & CEO, Kelly Greenwood via Harvard Business Review
"These Companies Will Cover Travel Expenses for Employee Abortions," The New York Times
V. Resources for Mental Health ERGs, Affinity Groups, and Peer Listening Programs
Mind Share Partners has created resources for internal mental health champions that lead mental health employee resource groups (ERGs) within their organizations.
[Resource] Virtual Community for Mental Health ERGs - A free Slack community and ongoing resources for leaders of mental health ERGs from over 330+ companies.
[Toolkit] "How to Create a Mental Health ERG" Mind Share Partners
[Toolkit] "How to Create a Peer Listening Program" Mind Share Partners
[Article] "How to Form a Mental Health Employee Resource Group," Harvard Business Review
VI. Mind Share Partners' Frameworks To Drive Culture Change Supporting Workplace Mental Health
This free toolkit helps companies better understand how to
proactively, comprehensively, and effectively support mental
health at work. These frameworks are based on our own work
with clients across industries, regions, and sizes.
Mind Share Partners is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that is changing the culture of workplace mental health so that both employees and organizations can thrive. We host communities to support ERGs and professionals, build public awareness, and provide workplace training and strategic advising to leading companies.