FG Begins Decriminalization of Attempted Suicide in Major Mental Health Reform

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The Federal Government has officially initiated the legal process to decriminalize attempted suicide in Nigeria, following the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) formal approval of the policy recommendation presented by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Speaking in Abuja at the 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day commemoration, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, confirmed that the proposed legislative reform will now move to the National Assembly for formal amendment. The minister’s address was delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom.

Salako characterized the initiative as both a critical legal adjustment and a vital public health intervention. He emphasized that individuals experiencing severe psychological distress require compassionate clinical support and community care rather than criminal prosecution or custodial punishment.

However, the minister noted that legal reform represents only one component of a broader public health strategy. He assured that the government will simultaneously expand community-based mental health infrastructure, strengthen early crisis intervention systems, and launch campaigns to reduce social stigma around mental health conditions.

The policy shift builds upon existing regulatory frameworks, including the National Mental Health Act 2021, the National Mental Health Policy 2023, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023–2030. According to Salako, the National Task Force on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide has completed extensive consultations with policymakers, judicial authorities, and healthcare stakeholders to pave the way for the legislative transition.