FG to decriminalise attempted suicide

The Federal Government has announced plans to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria. The decision was made during a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, where it was decided that people experiencing psychological distress should receive treatment, care and support instead of facing criminal prosecution. This change comes from the National Mental Health Act and aims to shift the focus from punishment to public health and mental health assistance.

Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate addressed the news, stating that the amendment will be presented to the National Assembly as an executive Bill. He emphasised that the government intends to eliminate the colonial-era provisions that criminalise attempted suicide, treating it primarily as a health issue requiring professional intervention rather than punishment.

According to Pate, suicide is responsible for over 7,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, with an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts recorded each year. He highlighted that the current laws, namely Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code, treat attempted suicide as a criminal offence, discouraging people from seeking help and treating them as offenders instead of patients in need of care.

Pate explained that the reform aims to change the approach to one that recognises attempted suicide as a situation requiring medical and psychosocial support, similar to how other health conditions are treated. He compared the current approach to punishing someone for suffering from an illness, arguing that mental health conditions should be handled with compassion and a treatment-oriented response.