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Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act to decriminalise attempted suicide, with the government targeting a 15 percent reduction in suicide deaths and attempts by 2030.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, announced the reform after Wednesday’s FEC meeting at the State House, describing it as a fundamental shift in how the state treats people who attempt suicide as a result of mental illness.
“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,” Pate told reporters.
“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.”
The reform seeks to repeal Sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes, colonial-era laws that treat individuals experiencing psychological distress as offenders rather than persons in need of care and support.
Pate said the current legal framework discourages help-seeking behaviour and conflicts with the National Mental Health Act 2021, which provides for supportive care, protection and treatment for individuals at risk of self-harm.
According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is responsible for more than 7,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, with an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts recorded each year. Over 450,000 Nigerians require psychosocial support annually.
Globally, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, according to Pate.
Bill to be transmitted to National Assembly
Pate said a task force was set up following a resolution of the House of Representatives, working with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health to develop the amendment.
The bill emerged after extensive deliberation, including by mental health advocates; Pate added that there was consensus to make this amendment.
The amendment has now been passed by the Federal Executive Council and will be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment.
Pate expressed hope that the decriminalisation would reduce both attempted and completed suicides.
“Hopefully, that will reduce episodes of suicides that are successful or even attempted. Our goal is to reduce by 15 per cent by 2030,” he said.
