Suicide is on the front burner as an array of enlightened speakers and panelists gather to deliberate on critical issues around mental health, in continuation of the public enlightenment and education on mental health in Nigeria, as Vanguard hosts the third edition of its Mental Health Summit Series.This year’s Summit will confront Nigeria’s escalating suicide crisis and the often-overlooked intersection with substance abuse. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among Nigerian youth aged 15 to 29 even as 450,000 Nigerians need mental health and psychosocial support every year due to suicide-related trauma.The Summit, themed “Taming the tide of suicide in Nigeria”, with sub-theme: “Substance and Silence: Unmasking the Dual Crisis of Addiction and Suicide” is designed to rekindle the awareness on mental health, tackle the challenges surrounding the management of the various mental disorders, and mitigate their effects on the community.As the forum opens at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, it is expected, once again, to bring together policymakers, mental health professionals, survivors, media leaders, and youth advocates to drive urgent conversations around decriminalisation, stigma reduction, and community-based care.As the conversation continues, expectation for a humane legal system for suicide prevention is top on the expected outcomes. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank data, an estimated 11,000 Nigerians died by suicide in 2021, while over 200,000 others attempted it and survived.With Nigeria’s 2021 population placed at about 218.5 million, the WHO’s reported suicide rate of 4.9 to 5 deaths per 100,000 people translates to roughly 10,900 to 11,000 deaths that yearFor every suicide death, experts estimate there are at least 20 non-fatal attempts, suggesting that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians may be struggling silently with suicidal thoughts and behaviour.While the figures place Nigeria below the global average suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000, mental health specialists warn that under-reporting, stigma, and poor data systems mean the true burden may be higher, even as many deaths go unrecorded or are misclassified as accidents due to cultural and religious sensitivities, or fear of arrest under Nigeria’s Criminal Code, which criminalises attempted suicide.Experts say the outdated law discourages people in distress from seeking help and fuels the culture of silence around mental illness. They are calling for urgent reform to treat suicide as a public health concern rather than a criminal offence, in line with WHO recommendations and global mental health standards.The Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) representing Cross River South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who is the Special Guest of Honour at the Summit, will give remarks about the Suicide Decriminalisation Bill currently before the National Assembly.
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