On 13 October, the Senate passed Nigeria’s Suicide Prevention Bill 2026 for second reading and referred it to the Health and Judiciary committees for further consideration. The bill has yet to become law. Much of the attention has focused on whether surviving a suicide attempt should remain a crime. Beyond that debate is a wider question of how Nigeria can improve suicide prevention and care for those at risk.
The bill comes against a significant global public health concern. More than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). For each suicide death, there are many more attempts, with WHO citing an estimate of 20 attempts per death. Suicide is also the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29.
Estimates cited by Nigeria’s health authorities, based on WHO figures, point to more than 7,000 suicide deaths and about 300,000 attempts in Nigeria each year. These figures also highlight the need for reliable reporting and accessible support for people experiencing suicidal crises.
What the bill proposes
The bill would remove criminal penalties for attempted suicide, which currently carries up to a year in prison under the Criminal Code and the Penal Code. It would also set up a framework for prevention, treatment and support for survivors. A separate amendment to the National Mental Health Act, approved by the Federal Executive Council in August, points in the same direction. Neither changes the law until the National Assembly acts.
This matters because, right now, Nigerian law describes the same person in two ways. The National Mental Health Act recognises an attempt as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical attention, while the criminal codes treat it as an offence. Critics of criminalisation argue that fear of punishment can discourage people and their families from seeking help or disclosing what happened. This can also make accurate reporting and follow-up care more difficult.
Nigeria would not be the first West African country to take this step. Ghana’s Parliament passed legislation to decriminalise attempted suicide in March 2023, providing for survivors to receive mental health care rather than face imprisonment. WHO points to it as having laid the foundation for a supportive environment and for putting prevention work in place.
Ghana’s experience also shows that changing the law is only part of the work. Mental health advocates have continued to highlight gaps in services, reporting and implementation after decriminalisation. Nigeria will need to ensure that police officers, courts and healthcare workers understand any new legal provisions and apply them consistently. People must also know where to seek help, and services must be accessible to those who need them.
Rehabilitation and support for survivors
The bill’s provisions for rehabilitation and survivor support deserve attention. A previous suicide attempt is an important risk factor for a future attempt or suicide death, making appropriate care after a crisis particularly important.
That care usually starts with treating the emergency and a risk assessment by a trained clinician, followed by a safety plan made with the person and regular contact after they leave care.
The weeks after discharge carry a very high risk, which is why follow-up matters so much. Providing this support requires trained professionals and services that people can access when they need them.
The sponsor himself has said that decriminalisation without accessible care would be incomplete.
How we talk about this
The way we talk about suicide can influence whether people feel able to seek help. “Died by suicide” is generally preferred to “committed suicide” because it avoids language historically associated with criminality. Calling someone who dies by suicide a coward, or describing an attempt as courageous, also reduces a complex and painful experience to a judgement about character.
Changing the law can affect how people experiencing a suicidal crisis are treated. Public understanding and access to mental health care are also essential to prevention.
Anyone struggling with their mental health deserves compassionate support. Speaking with a qualified mental health professional can be one step towards receiving appropriate care.
Sources
WHO, Suicide fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide?
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. FG Moves to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide as FEC Approves Ministry’s Position https://health.gov.ng/fg-moves-to-decriminalise-attempted-suicide-as-fec-approves-ministrys-position/?
World Health Organization. LIVE LIFE Initiative for Suicide Prevention. https://www.who.int/initiatives/live-life-initiative-for-suicide-prevention
Ghana News Agency. Decriminalization of Suicide in Ghana Good but Not Enough, Prof. Osei. https://gna.org.gh/2024/09/decriminalization-of-suicide-in-ghana-good-but-not-enough-prof-osei/
