News
Psychiatrists call for decriminalisation of suicide attempt
By Gloria Ikibah
President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Prof. Taiwo Obindo, has called for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in the country.
Prof. Obindo made the call at a stakeholders meeting organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare on the “Need To Prioritise And Implement The Mental Health Act”.
According to him, the establishment of the National Counselling Centers across the country in an attempt to address mental health is like putting the cart before the horse, even as he noted that suicide attempt is still a criminal offense in both the Criminal Act and the Penal Code.
He said: “Hence the first step would be a move to decriminalize attempted suicide. Criminalizing attempted Suicide has proven to be a major barrier for suicide prevention intervention service uptake.
“The archaic law, inherited from our Colonial masters, in an attempt to stop the act of suicide did not address the thoughts and social determinants of Suicide. Significant evidence showed that 90% of those who take their lives through suicide had a background history of Mental Health Conditions; out of which 80% are attributable to Depression due to various bio-psycho-social aetiologies.
“Why do we, as a Nation, then punish individuals who are ill and need medical attention rather than prosecution? It will shock you to know that Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is lagging behind as quite a number of our neighbouring nations have abrogated that law.
“Establishing a Counselling center, without abrogating this archaic law would put, even the counselors at risk because the law also prescribes penalties for those who are aware of the plan but did not report”.
Prof. Obindo therefore called for the implementation of the Mental Health Act, which he said is a product of legislation that went through rigorous due process by the legislature, assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2022, and has been gazetted as a law of the Country.
This, he said would address the many years of neglect of this important aspect of our nationhood.
Obindo said a requirement for the effective implementation of the Act is the establishment of a Mental Health Services Department in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH).
“It will shock you to hear that, more than a year later, the department is yet to be established. Most of, if not all, the items in your plan are meant to be supervised by this department in obedience to the rule of law! Hence, the establishment of the department is germane to the success of all your plans,” he added.
He explained that the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria is an umbrella body of all Nigerian Psychiatrists in the Country and other allied Practitioners, and have been at the forefront of campaigns and advocacy for global best practices.
He further lauded the Committee for the initiative, and said if well-implemented, it will positively impact the hitherto neglected Mental Health, persons affected by Mental Health Conditions, and Mental Health Practitioners.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Special Healthcare, Rep. Alex Egbona, in his address called for stakeholders’ partnership in dealing with mental health challenges and other related health cases.
The Chairman said the committee was created to provide the requisite legislative frameworks for improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He said the session is a collaborative initiative of the committee to share its mandate and planned activities with identified relevant institutions and organisations.
“I, therefore, solicit the support and partnership of all stakeholders, our development partners, international NGOs, and CSOs, you are all urged to take interest in building the capacity of the committee members and staff to enhance the efficacy of the committee.
“Consider our five thematic areas of Mental Health, Trauma and Obstetrics Fistula, Oral Health and ENT, Blood Transfusion, Blood and Management, Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine and engage the committee for maximum impact,” he said.
Rivers State Administrator, Retired Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas marked Easter on Sunday with a worship service at the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Government House, Port Harcourt.
Ibas was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Theresa, their children, and key state officials including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, and his family.
A statement signed by the SSA media, Hector Igbikiowubo, said the administrator joined worshippers in a service filled with uplifting hymns and prayers for peace in Rivers State and the country.
Chaplain Pastor Barasin Ogan delivered a message, reminding the congregation of the transformative power of Christ and assuring them of divine justification, deliverance, healing, and righteousness through faith.
Special prayers were offered for President Bola Tinubu, Administrator Ibas, and the continued progress of Rivers State, reinforcing unity and faith as the foundation for a brighter future.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has strongly denied reports linking it to the alleged kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl in Rivers state, describing the claims as false, malicious, and a figment of the writer’s imagination.
In a statement issued by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, the NCoS said the allegation was aimed at misleading the public and tarnishing the image of the Service.
Abubakar stated that a thorough check of available records showed no inmate named “Chi Boy” is in custody at any facility under the Enugu State Command.
He added that the failure to provide the full names of the alleged inmate or the kidnapped victim further undermines the credibility of the report.
He emphasized that the NCoS is unaware of any kidnapping incident linked to its facilities in Rivers State or any other command, as claimed in a circulating press statement and viral video.
Abubakar also clarified that no investigative agency has tracked any suspected kidnapper to any correctional facility in either Enugu or Delta State Commands.
“Therefore, the Service is not in the position to confirm payment of ransom or whatsoever transaction as alleged in the fictitious report and video.
“The Service has no role in the said kidnap story, and as a security organization, it does not operate in isolation; rather, it partners with sister agencies to ensure adequate security. The Service will never turn down requests for investigation activities from sister agencies,” Umar said.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said he has instructed Israel’s military to intensify pressure on Hamas after the Palestinian militant group rejected a temporary truce proposal.
In a televised address, the Israeli prime minister said that while war came with a heavy price, Israel had “no choice but to continue fighting for our very existence, until victory”.
On Thursday, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal for a temporary pause in fighting, describing the offer as demanding “impossible conditions”.
Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, with 24 of them believed to be alive. It says it will only return them in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year.
Netanyahu’s remarks came after the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Israeli strikes had killed more than 90 people in 48 hours.
Women and children were among 15 people who were killed overnight on Friday in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to hospital staff.
At least 11 of those who were killed were sheltering in a tent in the designated humanitarian zone of al Mawasi, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living, the hospital workers said.
A further four people were killed in separate strikes on the city of Rafah, including a mother and her daughter, according to Gaza’s European Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
Israel says its latest campaign is to put pressure on Hamas to release more hostages and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory.
For weeks, Israeli troops have also blockaded Gaza, barring the entry of food and other goods.
Last month, 15 aid workers were killed and buried in a shallow grave after being fired upon by Israeli troops.
Hamas’s armed wing said the fate of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander was unknown after a guard who was holding him was found killed.
On Tuesday, Hamas said it had lost contact with a group of militants holding Mr Alexander in Gaza.
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