Mental health groups oppose attempted suicide bill, commend LASG

Mental health groups; Suicide Is No Solution, an anti-suicide campaign initiative and Asido Foundation, a nongovernmental mental health organization, have launched a campaign against efforts to make attempted suicide a crime in Nigeria.

The groups are arguing that those who attempt suicide need help rather than punishment as suicide was a mental health issue.

The two groups in a statement signed by Ngozi Andrew, the Executive Secretary of Suicide Is No Solution initiative, emphasised that “attempted suicide should not be a crime. Anybody who attempts to take his or her own life has come to the conclusion that life is no longer worth living. That individual is distressed with a strong need for professional mental health care, treatment, assistance and not punishment. Attempted suicide is a loud cry for help.”

They added that they were opposing the new bill recently passed for a second reading at the House of Representatives where six months community service and counselling was being proposed for Nigerian citizens who attempt suicide.

The groups emphasised that the proposed six months community service was still a punishment for persons with underlying mental and psychological disorder.

Ngozi Andrew noted that attempted suicide was still a crime in Nigeria punishable under the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which carries an imprisonment term of up to one year.

The groups commended the Lagos State Government for repealing the law which makes attempted suicide punishable, urging other states in Nigeria to follow suit.