Lagos:A Forensic Psychiatrist, Dr. Udoka Onyechere, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to treat suicidal behavior as a public health issue rather than a criminal act. She advocates for the decriminalization of attempted suicide and emphasizes the need for prioritizing mental healthcare for affected individuals.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Onyechere, who is completing her residency at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, expressed her views in an advocacy article. She highlighted the importance of replacing punitive measures with compassion, medical assessments, and appropriate mental healthcare.
Dr. Onyechere, who also serves as Officer for Strategic Priorities for Nigerian Psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, described attempted suicide as a severe psychological distress that requires medical attention rather than punishment. She pointed out that criminalizing attempted suicide can exacerbate stigma, deter individuals from seeking help, and intensify challenges for affected families.
She further noted that Nigeria’s current Criminal Code and Penal Code, which impose imprisonment and fines for attempted suicide, are outdated colonial-era laws that should be reformed. She welcomed the Senate’s recent progress on the National Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, which aims to replace criminal sanctions with crisis intervention and medical care.
Onyechere cited World Health Organization statistics indicating that approximately 16,000 Nigerians die by suicide annually. She warned that criminalization could perpetuate misconceptions about mental health conditions, often misinterpreted as laziness or lack of faith. She also received support from other professionals, including Dr. Mosun Fapohunda and Dr. Shahid Latif, who underscored the negative impact of criminalization on stigma and help-seeking behavior.
Concluding her appeal, Onyechere urged lawmakers for swift legislative action and encouraged Nigerians to support those experiencing psychological distress. She emphasized the importance of understanding and compassion, quoting an Igbo proverb to highlight community solidarity.