In Nigeria, mental health struggles remain largely unaddressed, with suicide attempts still treated as a crime. Rather than receiving care and support, survivors face legal punishment, further deepening stigma and isolation. Suicide claims over 720,000 lives globally each year, and in Nigeria, the suicide rate stood at 6.9 per 100,000 people as of 2019.
Despite the country’s population exceeding 215 million, there are only around 200 psychiatrists, leaving many without access to mental health services. Criminalizing suicide exacerbates stigma, deters individuals from seeking help, and violates basic human rights.
Advocates like Aisha Bubah, leader of Nguvu Change, are calling for the decriminalization of suicide in Nigeria, emphasizing that it should be treated as a public health issue, not a criminal act.
She highlights that criminalization leads to underreporting, limits access to care and prevents individuals from seeking the support they need.
Aisha has launched a petition urging Nigeria’s National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) to train primary healthcare workers as lay counselors, establish mental health desks, and provide mental health training for doctors and nurses at healthcare centers across the country. She stresses that decriminalizing suicide is a critical step toward reducing stigma and saving lives.
