An anti-suicide campaign initiative and Asido Foundation, a non-governmental mental health organisation, have launched a campaign against attempted suicide being a crime in Nigeria.
A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of Suicide Is No Solution initiative, Ngozi Andrew, on behalf of the two groups, stated: “Attempted suicide should not be a crime. Anybody who attempts to take his or her own life has come to the conclusion that life is no longer worth living. That individual is distressed with a strong need for professional mental health care, treatment, assistance and not punishment. Attempted suicide is a loud cry for help.”
The groups also opposed the new bill, which recently passed second reading at the House of Representatives where six months community service and counselling is being proposed for Nigerian citizens who attempt suicide.
The groups commended the Lagos State Government for repealing the law, which makes attempted suicide punishable, urging other states in Nigeria to follow suit.
