Sir, - Very low suicide rates in pregnancy are a comparatively recent phenomenon, as was pointed out in an editorial on the subject in the British Medical Journal of January 19th 1992 - published, coincidentally, a short time before the "X" case judgment. The editorial suggested that legalised abortion, improved contraception and a less punitive attitude towards single motherhood might be the cause of the change.
In 15 studies from several countries based on the years 1943 to 1980, an average of 1.8 per cent of women who were of child-bearing age and who committed suicide were pregnant. In contrast, in 13 similar studies from the years 1900 to 1947, the rate was 12.6 per cent. While many people who commit suicide are psychiatrically ill at the time, social factors should never be overlooked and a crisis pregnancy may be a very important factor in the suicide of a young woman.
The editorial refers to a study of London coroners' records from 1943 to 1962 which supports the suggestion that suicide is far commoner if a pregnancy is looked on as a disaster. Of the 66 pregnant women who died during this period, 62 per cent had what were described as "illegitimate" pregnancies, compared with 13 per cent of all pregnant women. Over half took their lives in the third to fifth month of pregnancy and a quarter in the third month - at this stage a woman would have missed two menstrual periods and would have known she was definitely pregnant. "Attempted suicide used to peak in the third month of pregnancy for the same reason," the editorial continues, and "there is a significantly higher suicide rate in pregnant teenagers than in older women."
The British Medical Journal is widely read. Perhaps the judges in the "X" and "C" cases were better informed than some people think. - Yours, etc., Senator Mary Henry, M.D.,
Seanad Eireann, Baile Atha Cliath, 2.