The Nigerian House of Representatives has passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to pay adequate attention to the issue of suicide and other mental health challenges and their effects on citizens. Lawmakers called for collaborative efforts between the government, the Ministry of Health, and the National Orientation Agency to establish counseling centers nationwide to provide services to individuals facing mental health challenges.
Additionally, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Health to collaborate with relevant health institutions to ensure that research conducted on mental health is utilized for the benefit of society.
The resolution comes following a motion on the need to prioritize and implement the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 2021, to address suicide and related issues in the country. The House mandated its Committee on Healthcare Services to evaluate the implementation of the Mental Health Act and conduct a needs assessment for its full implementation.
The sponsor of the motion, Uchenna Nwachukwu, emphasized that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect and safeguard the lives of Nigerians, as outlined in the Constitution. He cited recent incidents of suicide, including a case where a teenager took her own life after being raped in Oyo State. Nwachukwu noted that many such cases go unreported due to cultural perceptions that consider suicide a taboo.
The motion highlighted risk factors for suicide, such as mental health conditions, substance use, access to lethal means, prolonged stress, unemployment, financial crises, and child abuse and neglect, as significant threats that need to be addressed.
Nwachukwu called for increased awareness campaigns, particularly on how individuals suffering from mental health issues can receive help in accordance with the provisions of the Mental Health Act. The resolution reflects a growing recognition of the importance of mental health and suicide prevention in Nigeria’s public health agenda.