Nigeria approves bill to decriminalise attempted suicide

The Nigerian Federal Executive Council has approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act to decriminalise attempted suicide. The proposal, which will be transmitted as an executive bill to the National Assembly, aims to treat suicide as a public health issue rather than a criminal offense. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, stated the reform targets a 15 per cent reduction in suicide deaths and attempts by 2030. Data indicates suicide causes over 7,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, with approximately 300,000 attempts recorded each year.

The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) welcomed the move as a major milestone but cautioned that decriminalisation alone is insufficient. The APN urged the Federal Government to address underlying socioeconomic drivers of mental distress, including poverty, unemployment, and insecurity.

Critics have noted that while the move is medically necessary, the government must also ensure the effective implementation of existing mental health laws and institutions to avoid the reform being viewed as mere legislative theater.