Nigeria moves toward ending criminal penalties for suicide attempts
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Lagos: Nigeria attempts to remove the criminalisation of suicide attempts as the government shifts its focus from punishment to mental health care and assistance.
The Federal Executive Council has approved an update to the National Mental Health Act that eliminates criminal sanctions for attempted suicide. The proposal will now be brought to the National Assembly for discussion.
According to data published by Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria has over 300,000 suicide attempts and over 7,000 suicide deaths every year. According to mental health activists, criminalising efforts can prevent people in crises from seeking immediate help for fear of being prosecuted.
The government aims to reduce suicide rates by 15% by 2030. Advocates, on the other hand, argue that decriminalisation must be supported with increased access to mental health care and legislative uniformity throughout Nigeria's states.
Photo: Representative Image
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