Nigerians who survive suicide attempts could receive medical care instead of facing criminal prosecution under a bill that has passed second reading in the Senate.
The proposed legislation seeks to replace punishment with treatment, counselling and support for survivors.
Sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, the bill aims to reconcile existing criminal laws with the National Mental Health Act, which recognises mental health emergencies as requiring medical intervention.
Leading the debate, Ekpenyong urged lawmakers to reconsider the state’s response to suicide attempts.
“At the heart of this bill is a simple question. When a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be persecution or protection?” he asked.
Ekpenyong said Sections 327 of the Criminal Code and 231 of the Penal Code expose survivors to criminal punishment despite the provisions of the National Mental Health Act.
He warned that the threat of prosecution could discourage distressed people from seeking help.
It could also force families to conceal suicide attempts for fear of legal consequences, worsening stigma and undermining suicide prevention efforts.
“The police station or correctional facility should not be the default destination for a person who requires urgent clinical care,” he said.
The bill proposes measures covering suicide prevention, emergency response, medical assessment, treatment and continued support for survivors.
It also seeks to promote public education and train health workers, teachers, police officers and emergency responders to recognise warning signs and connect vulnerable people with appropriate services.
Ekpenyong stressed that removing criminal penalties must go hand in hand with accessible psychological care, adequate funding and effective implementation.
Supporting the bill, Senator Adedayo Faduyile, representing Ondo South, said attempted suicide should be treated as a medical emergency rather than a criminal offence.
Drawing on his experience as a medical practitioner, Faduyile said people experiencing depression and other mental health conditions might require urgent professional intervention.
He argued that sending survivors to police stations or correctional facilities would not address the underlying problems that led to their actions.
“The best way to treat anybody who did not succumb to a suicide attempt is actually not to criminalise it. They need help,” he said.
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, commended Ekpenyong for introducing the proposal.
He said the bill deserved input from psychologists, medical practitioners and other professionals to ensure an effective response to suicide attempts.
Ningi added that further legislative scrutiny would provide an opportunity to examine the circumstances surrounding suicide attempts and develop appropriate interventions.
The debate also raised questions about the proposed law’s application across states with different criminal justice frameworks.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele cautioned that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act did not automatically apply in every state, as implementation depended on the laws adopted by individual state Houses of Assembly.
He said lawmakers needed to clarify the constitutional scope of the proposed amendment.
Another lawmaker argued that federal legislation would prevail over inconsistent state laws where the Constitution empowers the Federal Government to legislate.
Having passed second reading, the bill will proceed to further legislative scrutiny, including examination of its legal reach and implementation.
If enacted, the legislation could mark a significant shift in how Nigeria responds to suicide attempts, placing greater emphasis on emergency medical care, recovery and prevention rather than criminal punishment.