Nigeria, which has a crippling shortage of mental health professionals – fewer than 1 000 psychiatrists serving more than 200m people – says it plans to decriminalise attempted suicides, and that instead of being treated as offenders, these people should rather be seen as people needing care.
Africanews reports that mental health issues are largely stigmatised in the country, and currently, trying to take one’s life is punishable by up to one year in prison under the colonial-era Criminal Code, while the Penal Code provides for up to a year in jail, a fine, or both.
But Health Minister Ali Pate said the existing legal framework treated people experiencing severe psychological distress as offenders rather than persons desperately needing help and care.
Suicide was a major public health concern, he added, and criminalising attempted suicide “discourages help-seeking behaviours” while conflicting with national mental health policy.
WHO statistics show that Nigeria records about 300 000 suicide attempts annually, with at least 7 000 deaths.
The reform aims to slash suicide deaths and attempts by 15% by 2030, as Nigeria shifts its response from punishment to care and support.
The government will send the planned amendment to the National Mental Health Act to the national assembly for enactment.
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