The Federal Executive Council has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act aimed at removing criminal penalties for attempted suicide in Nigeria.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, said the proposed reform is part of efforts to reduce suicide deaths and attempts by 15 per cent by 2030.
Speaking after Wednesday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, Pate described suicide as a major public health concern, citing World Health Organisation estimates of more than 7,000 suicide deaths and about 300,000 attempts annually in Nigeria.
He said the impact extends to families and communities, with more than 450,000 Nigerians requiring psychosocial support each year.
“Council looked at this issue, and a task force had been set up following a resolution of the House of Representatives, which is supportive of this.
“Together with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, we worked towards an amendment of the Mental Health Act, and that has now been passed by the Federal Executive Council and will be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment,” Pate said.
Attempted suicide remains punishable under provisions of the Criminal Code Act and Penal Code, which Pate said conflict with the care-focused approach of the National Mental Health Act.
“Attempting suicide is not a crime. If someone, because of mental health illness, attempts to harm themselves within the context of those colonial-era laws, you can arrest them and prosecute them for breaking the law.
“But these are people that are actually ill. It’s like getting somebody who has tuberculosis and asking, ‘Why did you have tuberculosis?’ So it’s changing the paradigm to one whereby they require care and support.”
Pate said the amendment followed consultations involving mental health advocates, the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney-General’s Office and the National Assembly.
The proposed legislation will now be transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration, as the government seeks to shift the response to attempted suicide from criminal prosecution to treatment, care and psychosocial support.
“Hopefully, that will reduce episodes of suicides that are successful or even attempted. Our goal is to reduce by 15 per cent by 2030,” Pate said.
