In Nigeria, attempted suicide is still a crime punishable by up to one year in prison. However, a proposed law aims to change this, shifting the response from punishment to mental health care and support.
Nigeria's Proposed Law Aims to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide
Nigeria is moving to decriminalise attempted suicide, with the Federal Executive Council approving an amendment to the National Mental Health Act. The proposed reform would shift the response from criminal prosecution towards mental health care, support, and rehabilitation. According to Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria records more than 7,000 suicide deaths and about 300,000 suicide attempts each year.
The proposed amendment would instead emphasise mental health assessment, treatment, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation. This is an attempt to bring Nigeria's laws closer together, as the National Mental Health Act provides a framework for protecting and treating people experiencing mental health challenges, while the older criminal provisions continue to punish attempted suicide.
Decriminalisation: A Shift in Focus
The proposed law aims to prioritise treatment and psychological support for people who survive suicide attempts. Sending someone who has attempted suicide into the criminal justice system can add another layer of fear to an already difficult situation. It may also discourage people from seeking help or make families reluctant to report a crisis. Under the current law, attempting to take one's own life is an offence punishable by up to one year in prison.
A 15% Reduction Target by 2030
The Federal Government wants a stronger focus on suicide prevention and mental health support as it targets a 15% reduction in suicide cases by 2030. If the amendment eventually becomes law, the intended response would be significantly different. Instead of automatically approaching a survivor through the criminal justice system, the emphasis would be on determining what support the person needs and connecting them with appropriate care.
What's Next?
Although attempted suicide has not yet been decriminalised in Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council has approved the proposed amendment; the measure still has to go through the National Assembly before it can become law. Until the relevant legal provisions are changed, the existing criminal provisions remain applicable. The reform also comes after years of advocacy and legislative efforts, including a bill sponsored by former lawmaker Francis Waive in 2022 that sought to replace the prison punishment for attempted suicide with counselling and community service.
Source: Pulse.ng
