The Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group has called for a comprehensive societal approach to prevent suicide and decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria.
This was the key takeaway from a recent webinar held to mark World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), hosted by Prof. Taiwo Sheikh in Lagos.
Themed “Shifting Perspectives: Redefining Suicide Prevention In Nigeria,” the webinar highlighted the importance of addressing suicide from multiple societal angles. Prof. Taiwo Sheikh, Coordinator of the group and a Consultant Psychiatrist, emphasized the need for a shift in how society handles suicide and its prevention.
“The overview of the programme was to address the issue of suicide with a focus on the need to prevent suicide, decriminalise attempted suicide, and give hope to victims; their families and the society,” Sheikh said.
He identified economic hardships, frustration, financial instability, depression, mental health conditions, and insecurity as some of the psycho-social factors contributing to suicidal thoughts among Nigerians.
“Most times, people who attempt suicide do not ordinarily want to kill themselves, but the circumstances and challenges around lured them into the act. Hence, the need to address the challenges and render care and love to such people, rather than criminalising them,” Sheikh added.
Thili Perera, CEO of Lifeline International, highlighted the global gravity of the issue, stating that suicide accounts for 720,000 deaths annually, making it the third leading cause of death worldwide and the second in Africa. Perera stressed the importance of treating individuals who attempt suicide with compassion and called for a shift away from criminalisation.
Prof. Jibril Abdulmalik, Founder of the Asido Foundation, advocated for enhanced collaboration between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in suicide prevention efforts.
He shared a success story of collaboration between Asido, CHELD, and the Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), which led to the restoration of a person previously charged with attempted suicide.
“Collaboration is key in actualising the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Nigeria,” Abdulmalik said.
Dr. Aisha Hassan, a mental health advocate, echoed the call for a holistic approach involving all sectors of society.
She stressed that effective suicide prevention requires the collective effort of mental health professionals, lawmakers, community and religious leaders, educators, and the general public.
“Suicide prevention requires a holistic approach involving mental health professionals, lawmakers, community and religious leaders, educators, and all members of the society,” Hassan said.
The webinar underscored the critical need for a unified, compassionate approach to tackling suicide, with an emphasis on care and support rather than criminalisation, to effectively address and reduce the incidence of suicide in Nigeria.