By Destiny Obinna
Civil society organisations have urged the National Assembly to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria and replace the threat of prosecution with medical care and support, following the passage of the Suicide Prevention Bill, 2024, through its second reading in the Senate.
The organisations, Nigerian Mental Health (NMH) and the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group (NSPAWG), also called for inclusive public hearings to enable mental health professionals, civil society groups and people with lived experience to contribute to the proposed legislation.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, passed its second reading on October 13, 2026, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) and the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further consideration.
The development marks a significant step in efforts to reform Nigeria’s legal response to attempted suicide, which remains a criminal offence under Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code.
The organisations said the existing legal provisions could discourage people experiencing suicidal distress and their families from seeking timely medical assistance for fear of prosecution or imprisonment.
According to the World Health Organization figures cited by the coalition, Nigeria records more than 15,000 suicide deaths and approximately 300,000 suicide attempts annually, underscoring the need for accessible mental health services and effective prevention measures.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” Ekpenyong asked during the Senate proceedings.
The senator argued that attempted suicide should be recognised as a mental health emergency requiring medical intervention rather than criminal punishment.
He also highlighted the contradiction between the National Mental Health Act, 2021, and existing provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes, calling for a more humane, health-centred approach to suicide prevention.
Advocates demand inclusive public hearings
Welcoming the bill’s progress, the founder of Nigerian Mental Health, Chime Asonye, commended Ekpenyong and the senators who supported its advancement.
“The Senate has moved the process forward; now it is our turn,” Asonye said.
He described the next legislative stage as an opportunity for people with lived experience, mental health professionals and civil society organisations to help shape a framework that protects lives and upholds human dignity.
The coalition urged the two Senate committees to organise accessible and representative public hearings, ensuring that affected individuals and relevant professional groups have meaningful opportunities to present evidence and recommendations.
It also called on citizens, health advocates and community leaders to participate in the legislative process by submitting memoranda and supporting its national petition for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide.
The organisations stressed that the bill’s advancement was an important step but warned that its ultimate impact would depend on the quality of the legislation, implementation arrangements and availability of funding.
Bill proposes national suicide prevention framework
Beyond removing criminal penalties, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a coordinated national framework for suicide prevention.
Under the proposed framework, people who survive suicide attempts would have access to medical assessment, referral, treatment and follow-up support. The bill also provides for crisis-response services, training for relevant professionals and first responders, public education and improved national data collection.
The coalition said these measures would require clearly defined institutional responsibilities, sustainable funding and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.
Convener of the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, Prof. Taiwo Lateef, urged the Senate committees to ensure that further consideration of the bill reflected evidence, the experiences of affected people and the practical realities of delivering mental health services across Nigeria.
The organisations said the public hearing stage would provide an opportunity to examine the proposed reforms and strengthen the case for replacing punitive responses with prevention, treatment and recovery support.
Coalition seeks funding for mental health services
The advocates also called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to operationalise and adequately fund the Department of Mental Health Services established under the National Mental Health Act, 2021.
They said a functional department would be essential to implementing mental health reforms and supporting a coordinated national response to suicide prevention.
Nigerian Mental Health said it had sustained the #SuicideNotCrimeNG campaign following the passage of the National Mental Health Act, bringing together more than 40 mental health organisations, professional associations and civil society partners to campaign against the criminalisation of attempted suicide.
The Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group subsequently worked with civil society organisations to develop and launch the original concept bill, which has now advanced through the Senate’s second reading.
The campaign’s national petition has also attracted thousands of signatures from Nigerians supporting legislative change, according to the organisations.
The coalition maintained that the legislative process was not yet complete, urging lawmakers to ensure that the final framework prioritised prevention, treatment, recovery and the dignity of people experiencing suicidal distress.
Nigerian Mental Health describes itself as a multidisciplinary network bringing together more than 50 professional associations to advance mental health policy, reduce stigma and expand access to care, while NSPAWG works with professional associations, non-governmental organisations and advocates to promote suicide prevention and legal reform.
