Nigeria Moves to Decriminalize Attempted Suicide

The Federal Government of Nigeria announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a proposed amendment to the National Mental Health Act aimed at decriminalizing attempted suicide. This proposal, however, is not yet law as it must be transmitted to and enacted by the National Assembly.

Critics argue that this announcement is premature, given the government's failure over the past four years to activate key institutions mandated by the existing National Mental Health Act, which was enacted as Act No. 46 on December 28, 2022, with presidential assent announced on January 5, 2023. The new law was celebrated for its progressive stance on mental health, promising protection from discrimination and abuse, and establishing a Department of Mental Health Services within the Federal Ministry of Health.

The department is intended to coordinate mental health services and facilitate a national suicide-prevention strategy, but its establishment has not yet been realized.