Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government's historic move to decriminalise attempted suicide, but has issued a stark warning that legal reform alone will not be enough to curb the rising tide of mental distress and suicidal behaviour across the country. In a statement on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the association welcomed the Federal Executive Council's approval of an amendment to the National Mental Health Act, which seeks to remove attempted suicide from Nigeria's criminal laws, but insisted that this landmark decision must be accompanied by urgent action to address the socioeconomic hardships that are driving Nigerians to the brink.
The psychiatrists stressed that the factors influencing mental health extend far beyond the healthcare system, pointing to poverty, unemployment, underemployment, rising transportation costs, poor roads, inadequate housing, unsafe communities, unreliable electricity and water supply, food insecurity and the escalating cost of living as critical drivers of mental illness and suicidal behaviour. "When citizens are overwhelmed by poverty, insecurity, unemployment, hunger, social isolation and hopelessness, the burden on mental health inevitably increases," the association said. "The government, therefore, has a crucial role to play beyond the health sector. Every meaningful intervention that makes life safer, more dignified and more economically viable is, in itself, a mental health intervention and suicide prevention."
The APN's call comes just days after the Federal Executive Council, at its meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria. The amendment, which will be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment, seeks to shift the treatment of persons who attempt suicide from punishment to care, protection and support. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, disclosed that the reform is targeted at reducing suicide deaths and attempts by 15 per cent by 2030. Citing World Health Organisation data, Pate said suicide is responsible for more than 7,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, with an estimated 300,000 suicide attempts recorded each year. The impact, he noted, extends beyond the individuals involved, affecting families, friends and communities, with over 450,000 Nigerians requiring psychosocial support annually.
While describing the FEC's decision as a "major milestone" and a "watershed moment" for mental health reform in Nigeria, the APN cautioned that decriminalisation must not be mistaken for the end of the journey. "It is only the beginning," the association declared. The psychiatrists expressed disappointment that the announcement had not been accompanied by a clear and decisive plan for the immediate implementation of the Mental Health Act 2021, which they said has remained largely on paper for far too long, despite its enormous potential to transform mental healthcare delivery across the country.
The APN demanded that decriminalisation be backed by concrete improvements in mental healthcare delivery, including a deliberate expansion of access to quality and affordable mental health services. "Accessibility must be matched by affordability," the psychiatrists said, warning that mental healthcare cannot become meaningful to Nigerians if essential medicines remain unavailable or unaffordable. The association called for the urgent review and update of the Essential Medicines List for Mental Health, with essential psychiatric medications made consistently available and affordable. It also urged the government to incorporate essential mental health medications into the National Health Insurance Authority coverage to reduce the financial burden on families, many of whom continue to bear the cost of mental healthcare largely through out-of-pocket payments. The ultimate goal, the association said, should be Universal Health Coverage, with health insurance and accessible healthcare for every Nigerian regardless of income or social status.
The APN further stressed that suicide prevention could not be left to the health sector alone, noting that mental health is profoundly influenced by social and economic conditions. It called for concerted action against substance use, drug trafficking and the illicit distribution and misuse of psychoactive substances, saying decisive action against these challenges would help prevent many individuals from reaching the point of suicidal crisis. "At its core, suicide prevention is about restoring hope, dignity, connection and meaning," the association said.
The psychiatrists' demand for socioeconomic intervention comes as Nigeria grapples with a cost-of-living crisis that has pushed millions of families into poverty, with inflation at record highs and food insecurity spreading across the country. Under the colonial-era Criminal Code and Penal Code, attempted suicide remains a criminal offence in Nigeria, punishable by up to one year in prison. The proposed amendment, if passed by the National Assembly, would mark a fundamental shift in how the country approaches mental health, replacing punishment with compassion and care. However, as the APN has made clear, the success of this reform will ultimately depend on whether the government is willing to tackle the root causes of the mental health crisis that has left so many Nigerians feeling hopeless and alone.
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