The National Assembly is set to consider a proposed amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021, aimed at removing attempted suicide from Nigeria’s criminal laws.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the proposed amendment for transmission to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the recent FEC meeting. According to the minister, attempted suicide is a criminal offence under provisions inherited from the colonial-era criminal code and penal code, despite the National Mental Health Act providing for protection, treatment and supportive care for people at risk of self-harm.
Pate said the existing legal framework could result in people experiencing mental health crises being arrested and prosecuted after surviving suicide attempts.
“The idea is attempted suicide is not a crime,” he said.
He said people who attempt suicide, particularly as a result of mental health challenges, should be treated as those requiring medical and psychological support rather than offenders.
Pate said the proposed reform followed consultations involving mental health advocates, the ministry of justice, the attorney-general’s office, the ministry of health and social welfare, a task force and the national assembly.
He said the objective is to shift the national response from punishment to treatment, care and support.
The minister said the government expected the policy change to contribute to reducing suicide attempts and completed suicides.
“Our goal is to reduce by 15 percent by 2030,” he said.
