The Federal Government has moved to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, targeting a 15 per cent reduction in suicide cases by 2030 as part of efforts to shift the country’s response to mental health challenges from punishment to care and support.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing journalists after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, saying the Council had approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act to remove the criminalisation of attempted suicide.

Pate said the move was designed to end the application of colonial-era laws under which people who attempted suicide could be arrested and prosecuted, despite often requiring medical and psychological intervention.

He said the existing legal framework treated people experiencing severe psychological distress as offenders rather than persons in need of care.

“Within the context of those colonial-era laws, you can arrest them and, in fact, prosecute them for breaking the law. While these are people who are actually ill, it is like getting somebody who has tuberculosis and saying, ‘Why did you have tuberculosis?’” he said.

“So, it is changing the paradigm to one whereby they require care and support if there is an attempted suicide. Hopefully, that will reduce episodes of suicides that are successful or even attempted.”

The minister said the government’s target was to achieve a 15 per cent reduction in suicide cases by 2030.

According to Pate, the proposed amendment followed extensive consultations involving mental health advocates, the Attorney-General’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as a task force established to work on the issue.

“After extensive deliberation, including by mental health advocates, there was consensus to actually make this amendment,” he said.

“With the Attorney-General’s Office, Ministry of Justice, ourselves and the task force that was set up, and with the support of the National Assembly, we think this bill will make a major difference from a public health perspective and help us deal with the burden of mental ill health that afflicts many Nigerians.”

He said the amendment, having received FEC approval, would now be transmitted to the National Assembly for legislative action.

Pate said the reform was also intended to address the inconsistency between the criminal justice framework and the National Mental Health Act, 2021, which provides for supportive care, protection and treatment for people at risk of self-harm.

The minister said the World Health Organisation estimates that suicide accounts for more than 7,000 deaths yearly in Nigeria, with about 300,000 suicide attempts recorded each year.

He added that more than 450,000 Nigerians require psychosocial support yearly, underscoring the need for a public health response rather than criminal sanctions.