The House of Representatives has urge the Federal Ministry of Health to collaborate with relevant Health Institutions to ensure that research on mental health is put into practice to ensure evidence-based care to Nigerians.
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This followed a motion on the Need to Prioritize and implement the Provisions of the Mental Health Law 2021 to tackle suicide and suicidality in Nigeria” moves by Hon. Uchenna Clement Nwachukwu, at plenary.
The House also noted that the awareness campaigns should reduce stigma and ensure the acceptability of regulations to protect the dignity of people struggling with mental health.
” Notes that the responsibility of the government is to protect and safeguard the lives of Nigerians as outlined by Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), provides that the security, safety, and welfare of the people of Nigeria shall be the primary purpose of the government. Also notes that on 12 July 2023, a teenager took her life after being raped in Oyo State, one out of many cases of suicide underreported and mostly unreported in Nigeria due to social stigmatization”. The motion said.
Hon Nwachukwu also said that
” Concerned that fresh cases of suicide as published in the print media have a greater proportion of youth as Victims, in January 2023, Joseph Olona, a 300-level student at FUTA, and 50-year-old Ojo Ogundeji both committed suicide on January 14 and 23, respectively; Worried that the risk factors for suicide such as mental health conditions, substance use, access to lethal means, prolonged stress, unemployment, financial crisis, and child abuse and neglect pose huge threats to Nigerians; Disturbed that there has not been adequate sensitization of the provisions of the Act and guidelines on how people struggling with mental health problems can receive help”.
Contributing to the debate, the leader of the House, Hon Julius Ihonbvere, said that the root causes of mental health such as anger, hunger, poverty and others need to be addressed to curb suicide.
The Deputy Speaker said that laws governing suicide needs be revisited.
The House resolved to mandate the Committee on Healthcare Services to evaluate the implementation of the content of the Mental Health Act and conduct assessment of the full implementation of the Act.
