President Bola Tinubu has approved a proposed amendment to Nigeria’s mental health law to end the application of colonial-era provisions that criminalise attempted suicide.
The proposed amendment seeks to decriminalise attempted suicide and shift the country’s response from prosecuting people in psychological distress to providing treatment, care and psychosocial support.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Pate said the proposed amendment to the National Mental Health Act would be transmitted to the National Assembly as an executive bill following its approval by the council.
According to the minister, the reform recognises attempted suicide primarily as a public health and mental health issue requiring professional intervention, rather than punishment or prosecution.
He explained that the proposed change was developed through collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Pate said the amendment has now received FEC approval and will be forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.
The move is aimed at replacing the criminal justice approach to attempted suicide with a mental health response focused on early intervention, treatment, care and psychosocial support for people experiencing psychological distress.