Photo: …Suicide Stigmatisation must stop
In Nigeria today, conversations about mental health are often whispered, if they happen at all. Yet behind the silence lies a troubling reality – thousands of lives are lost each year to suicide, many of them young Nigerians in their most promising years.
It is against this backdrop that Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, is championing the Suicide Prevention Bill, now before the Senate. The proposed law, which passed its first reading in February, seeks to decriminalize attempted suicide and build a national response system to prevent such tragedies. If passed, it would mark a significant departure from a colonial-era law that treats survivors of suicide attempts as criminals rather than individuals in need of help.
Speaking in Abuja at a meeting with members of the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, Ekpenyong stressed that suicide prevention must become a public health priority. “Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions affect millions of Nigerians, yet they are poorly understood and rarely prioritized,” he said. “We must replace stigma with support, and punishment with compassion.”
Experts agree the stakes are high. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that Nigeria records at least 16,000 suicide deaths annually, though many cases are unreported. Alarmingly, most victims are between ages 15 and 29, raising concern about the pressures faced by young people in an already challenging socio-economic climate.
Professor Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, convener of the coalition, psychiatrist, and Continental Representative for LifeLine International, argued that the current law is itself part of the problem. “When you criminalize attempted suicide, you stigmatize people who are already vulnerable,” he said. “Instead of seeking help, they suffer in silence.”
The proposed legislation aims not only to repeal outdated laws but also to introduce a framework for service delivery, funding, helplines, professional training, and data collection-tools, many say are urgently needed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond.
Advocates like Aisha Abdullahi Bubah, Executive Director of The Sunshine Series, stress that every delay comes at a cost. “For every suicide, there are at least 20 attempts. In Nigeria, every delay in passing this bill means more lives lost,” she said.
The bill’s push has gained momentum as Nigeria prepares to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, with campaigns, media engagements, and policy dialogues planned nationwide. Senator Ekpenyong is also expected to participate in the upcoming Vanguard Mental Health Summit in October, themed “Stemming the Rising Tide of Suicide in Nigeria.”
For advocates, lawmakers, and families affected, the Suicide Prevention Bill is more than legislation—it is an opportunity to reset national priorities. It signals a shift from punishment to prevention, and from silence to open recognition that suicide is a public health crisis demanding urgent action.
