Everything News
A 103-year-old Tanzanian woman identified as Mariam Hussein has narrated the lifelong story of love and patience detailing her deep affection for a white boyfriend named John, whom she failed to meet again after he left. Hussein, who spoke with Afrimax’s English anchor, Simon Greenwood, in Swahili (translated to English) recently said she was convinced
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The Federal Government is working towards de-criminalising attempted suicide in the country. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day. The commemoration is marked worldwide on September 10 every year. The theme for 2024
Nigerian govt moves to decriminalise attempted suicide
The Federal Government is working towards de-criminalising attempted suicide in the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day.
The commemoration is marked worldwide on September 10 every year. The theme for 2024 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”.
Suicide is a criminal offense in the country but there have been several calls by stakeholders to de-criminalise it.
Captured under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, it says “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.”
Pate, therefore, said that the ministry had launched the National Suicide Strategic Framework (2023-2030) to boost mental health and assist in the prevention of suicide.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, the minister said the document identified the risk and protective factors associated with suicide in the country.
He added that it also identified the strategic objectives, interventions, and indicators for suicide prevention, in line with international best practices.
The minister said that available data on suicide in Nigeria is put at 12.9 per 100,000, which is high.
He further said that suicide rates are high among young people aged 15 to 29 years, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the age group in Africa, accounting for 40 percent of all suicide deaths.
He, however, said that the statistics may not fully reflect the true prevalence of suicide in Africa, as all the reporting and stigma surrounding mental health issues remain huge barriers to accurate reporting.
Pate also said there was a strong link between suicide and mental health conditions, and that depression and alcohol use disorders were established links.
According to him, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis, with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life’s stress such as financial problems, relationship issues, breakups, chronic pain, and illness, among so many others.
He, however, said that the theme of the 2024 Global Observance Day is hinged on raising awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicide.
The minister added that changing the narrative means shifting our focus from the tragedy of suicide to prevention.
“It means moving away from taboos, stigma, and discrimination, to empathy and positive cultural change.
“As we stand united, we acknowledge the pain and suffering of those who have lost loved ones to suicide and we affirm our commitment to creating a society that supports and cares for those struggling with mental health issues.
“Suicide prevention is our collective responsibility and we must all be committed to building a society that values mental health, promotes well-being, and provides care for everyone,” he stated.
Traditionalists across Nigeria are strongly advocating for the use of traditional oaths for public officeholders. This, they said, would curb…
The United Nations has again predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go…