A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Network Open found that total abortion bans were associated with statistically significant increases in suicidal ideation among female high school students, based on analysis of hundreds of thousands of students in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2017 to 2023. The research compared trends in states that implemented total bans against those without restrictions, showing measurable differences in mental health outcomes. The finding suggests policy-level decisions around abortion access may have direct effects on adolescent mental health — a connection often absent from abortion debates focused on moral or constitutional arguments. The study does not establish whether the bans themselves cause distress or whether other correlated factors (like overall political climate or healthcare access) drive the association.