By Cynthia Alo
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong has referred to as for an pressing finish to the criminalisation of tried suicide in Nigeria, describing it as an outdated regulation that punishes ache as a substitute of offering care.
Talking on the third version of the Vanguard Psychological Well being Summit in Lagos, themed ‘Taming the Rising Tide of Suicide in Nigeria,’ the lawmaker stated 1000’s of Nigerians die by suicide yearly, a actuality he stated may very well be saved with compassion, care, and well timed motion.
Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District, disclosed that the Suicide Prevention Invoice, 2024, which has handed first studying within the Senate seeks to decriminalise tried suicide and set up a framework for rehabilitation, reintegration, and psychosocial help for survivors and affected households.
He stated : “Beneath Part 327 of the Felony Code and Part 231 of the Penal Code, making an attempt suicide in Nigeria remains to be a prison offence, punishable by as much as one 12 months in jail. This outdated regulation doesn’t save lives; it punishes ache. It deepens stigma, drives silence, and makes many extra decided to finish the act.”
Ekpenyong famous that addressing suicide requires confronting the co-existing disaster of substance dependancy whereas stressing that too many younger Nigerians are trapped between despair and dependence.
“The Suicide Prevention Invoice marks a historic shift, from punishment to affected person care, from stigma to help.
Particularly, it seeks to mandate the institution of correct funding of devoted evaluation and stabilization centres, making certain that any particular person who survives an try is instantly directed into an expert care pathway, reasonably than a jail cell.
“The supply for complete rehabilitation and psychosocial help is designed exactly to intercept the twin disaster, providing paths to restoration not simply from a suicide try, however from the underlying psychological misery typically exacerbated by drug and alcohol misuse.”
Ekpenyong counseled Vanguard Newspapers for sustaining the psychological well being dialogue since 2021, describing the summit as a bridge amongst advocates, consultants, and lawmakers.
He additionally expressed gratitude to civil society and psychological well being teams for supporting legislative reform and urged continued collaboration to finish the silence, open the doorways to care, and make suicide a narrative of survival and hope.
The publish Criminalisation of suicide in Nigeria outdated, doesn’t save lives – Ekpenyong appeared first on Vanguard Information.
