FG to decriminalise attempted suicide, approves Mental Health Act

The Federal Executive Council recently approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act in Nigeria, which seeks to decriminalise attempted suicide. This reform aims to reduce suicide deaths and attempts by 15 per cent by 2030. According to Professor Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, suicide is a significant public health concern in Nigeria and globally, with over 7,000 deaths and 300,000 attempts recorded annually.

Currently, attempted suicide is criminalised under colonial-era legislation, discouraging help-seeking behaviour and creating a legal inconsistency within Nigeria's mental health and justice frameworks. The amendment will treat individuals experiencing psychological distress as persons in need of care and support, rather than offenders, reflecting a fundamental shift in how the state addresses mental illness.

The bill emerged after extensive deliberation involving mental health advocates and received support from the House of Representatives, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.