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By Damiete Braide
Mental health experts in Nigeria have called on the federal government to expedite the implementation of the National Mental Health Act to ensure the well-being of individuals and society at large.
This call was made during a recent virtual meeting organised by the Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD), with the theme “Implementing the National Mental Health Act: A focus on suicide and decriminalisation of attempted suicide.”
The event brought together speakers and contributors from various backgrounds, including those in the legal field, health, legislature and other related spheres, to discuss the urgent need for mental health reform in Nigeria.
The CHELD’s mental health programme is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing mental health awareness, supporting individuals living with mental health conditions, advocating for their rights and improving access to essential services through comprehensive mental health law and policy reform.
The organization has been at the forefront of providing legal support to individuals charged with attempted suicide, advocating for the development of the National Mental Health Act and defending the rights of persons with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions.
The first presenter, a clinical psychologist, John Odutemu, addressed the issue of suicide from a clinical perspective. He highlighted the trends, driving factors and challenges in managing suicide cases as well as the best practices for prevention and intervention.
Odutemu noted that “suicidal thoughts are significant indicators of underlying mental health issues, often rooted in conditions like depression and abuse.”
He emphasized that “men are more likely to commit suicide due to societal pressures, toxic masculinity and repressed emotions. Additionally, children and young people are also vulnerable to suicidal thoughts due to factors such as negative comparisons, low self-esteem, bullying and academic pressures.”
Odutemu advocated the decriminalization of suicide, arguing that “individuals with suicidal thoughts are not selfish, possessed, or weak, but rather in need of support and intervention.”
He suggested several measures to manage suicide, including raising a red alert to appropriate authorities to ensure the person receives help, encouraging the individual to commit to counselling and utilizing available resources to prevent suicide attempts, such as rehabilitation and placing the person on a suicide watchlist for 24-hour protection.
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The second presenter, Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, executive director of CHELD, spoke on the legislative aspects of decriminalizing attempted suicide in Nigeria and operationalizing the Mental Health Act. Onyemelukwe highlighted the importance of addressing suicide and attempted suicide within the framework of the act and the role of mental health professionals in supporting its implementation.
She revealed that “three out of every 10 Nigerians suffer from some form of mental illness, with over 20 million Nigerians affected by various degrees of mental illness or disorder but lacking access to psychiatric health care.”
Onyemelukwe discussed the criminalization of attempted suicide under Nigerian law, citing specific legal provisions such as Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code, as well as similar provisions from Lagos and Ekiti states.
She recommended several steps to address these issues, including decriminalizing attempted suicide, implementing state laws supporting mental health, implementing Section 4 of the National Mental Health Act, and strengthening the understanding of mental health legislation among law enforcement and judiciary.
CHELD has actively engaged with various stakeholders such as government officials, mental health professionals, and advocacy groups to promote legal reforms and public awareness campaigns that shift the perception of suicide from a criminal issue to a public health concern.
In one notable case, CHELD supported legal proceedings to release a man arrested for attempting suicide, who is now thriving in a university, showcasing the profound positive outcomes of CHELD’s advocacy and support.
The group also provides ongoing support to individuals living with mental illnesses through counselling, rehabilitation and other support services.
The final presenter, Dr. Alex Egbona, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, represented by Olamide Omigbile, discussed implementation strategies at the National Assembly. Egbona emphasized that mental health is the cornerstone of overall well-being, affecting every aspect of life, from relationships to professional achievements and societal harmony.
He stressed that the National Mental Health Act provides a robust framework for addressing mental health issues comprehensively, including improving access to mental health care, promoting early diagnosis and intervention, and integrating mental health services into the primary healthcare system.
Egbona called on policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators, community leaders, and individuals to renew their dedication to this cause and ensure that the provisions of the National Mental Health Act are fully realized in their communities.
The meeting underscored the importance of legal reform and comprehensive mental health care to support individuals with mental health issues in Nigeria and prevent suicide effectively.
