As the world commemorates the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Nigeria confronts a troubling suicide crisis often hidden behind silence, stigma, and outdated laws. Despite an estimated 15,000 deaths annually, attempted suicide remains a criminal offence in the country, worsening fear and discouraging vulnerable people from seeking help.
According to Lifeline International, Nigeria is among the few countries where survivors of suicide attempts may face imprisonment under Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code. These colonial-era laws criminalise what is often a desperate cry for help. Over the years, multiple cases have been reported, including one in Abuja where police arrested a man who attempted suicide by climbing a radio mast. Rather than being offered psychological support, individuals in crisis risk prosecution and incarceration.
Nigeria Ranks Sixth Globally
Professor Adesanmi Akinsulore, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, revealed that Nigeria ranks sixth globally among countries with the highest suicide rates. He explained that while men account for nearly 79 per cent of suicides, women are more likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts.
The issue is particularly acute among young people. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29 worldwide, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data. Nigerian students and youths are increasingly vulnerable, driven by social pressures, mental health struggles, and economic hardship.
The true scale of the problem in Nigeria is believed to be far higher than official records suggest. Fear of prosecution and entrenched stigma prevent families from reporting cases. Lifeline International, citing WHO data, estimates that for every suicide death, at least 20 other people attempt to take their own lives. This translates to more than 300,000 Nigerians in suicidal distress each year.
The ripple effect is devastating. For every life lost, at least six others—family members, friends, or colleagues—struggle with the emotional aftermath. In Nigeria alone, nearly half a million people annually are left in need of psychosocial support.
Suicide as a Global Public Health Emergency
Globally, suicide claims more than 720,000 lives every year, with nearly three-quarters of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. WHO notes that while depression and alcohol use disorders are common risk factors, many suicides occur impulsively during crises triggered by relationship issues, financial problems, chronic illnesses, or violence.
Certain groups, including refugees, prisoners, migrants, indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ individuals, face heightened vulnerability. WHO stresses that suicide must be treated as a serious public health emergency requiring coordinated efforts across health, education, social services, and justice systems.
Crucially, WHO maintains that most suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based, and low-cost interventions such as restricting access to means of suicide, fostering life skills in young people, promoting responsible media reporting, and ensuring early support for those at risk.
WHO and IASP Renew Call for Action
To mark World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, the WHO and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) renewed calls for urgent action against the global suicide crisis. Both organisations stressed that open conversations about suicide and mental health are essential to create societies where people feel safe to seek help.
Their joint initiative, LIVE LIFE, promotes practical strategies such as:
- Restricting access to means of suicide.
- Encouraging responsible media reporting.
- Building socio-emotional skills in young people.
- Strengthening systems for early identification and support.
These approaches are supported by wider strategies including awareness campaigns, multi-sectoral collaboration, better financing, and regular monitoring.
World Suicide Prevention Day was first established in 2003 by IASP in partnership with WHO. Observed annually on September 10, it unites communities, governments, and organisations under the shared belief that suicide is preventable.
The triennial theme for 2024–2026, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” urges societies to challenge harmful myths, break the silence, and create safe spaces for compassion and dialogue. Governments are also called upon to make suicide prevention and mental health care a public policy priority.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in marking this year’s awareness day, experts stress that the country must move beyond criminalisation and stigma. Urgent legal reforms, increased investment in mental health care, and open national conversations are needed to save lives and protect the future of its youth.
Stay tuned to 9am News Nigeria for more Breaking News, Business News, Sports updates And Entertainment Gists.
