The reported rates of depression for lesbians responding to the NLHCS appear to be somewhat similar to those reported for heterosexual women.15 More than half of the respondents reported thoughts of suicide at some time, and 18% reported that they had attempted suicide. Although these numbers appear high, because there is no reliable source of information about suicide attempts by women in the general population, it is not possible to determine how such figures compare to a similar population of heterosexual women (Muehrer, 1995). The rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and incest do not appear to be significantly different from similar reports for all women (Bradford et al., 1994b).
Abortion was available in a restricted form from 5 July 1985.[60] Under this previous law it was only allowed under the following conditions: to preserve the mental health of the mother (in which case two specialists have to approve); if the pregnancy was a byproduct of rape or incest reported to the police (the abortion must be performed in the first twelve weeks); if the fetus would have deformities or an intellectual disability upon birth (two specialists had to agree on the findings); or if the mother's physical health was in immediate danger (in which case an abortion could be performed without the consent of the woman's family physician or the woman herself).[60]