Amidst the rising wave of suicide in the country, mental health experts have urged the National Assembly to pass the Mental Health Bill and stop criminalising suicide cases. The experts, who spoke at the Ruby Jubilee of the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists, Lagos chapter, said this was one of the ways to prevent the suicide epidemic in the country.

 

The event with the theme, ‘Taking Giant Strides in Psychological Services for National Relevance’, held on Wednesday at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. The Medical Director, FNPHY, Dr Oluwayemi Ogun, bemoaned the rising rate of suicide in the country.

 

According to a statement, Ogun stated that the causes of suicide were many, such as rape, unemployment and mental disorder. She said one of the ways to prevent suicide was for the government not to criminalise suicide issues, adding that there was the need for the National Assembly to pass the Mental Health Bill into law.

 

The Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, FNPHY, Dr Omotayo Ajirotutu, said there was the need for more awareness to stem the tide of suicide. Ajirotutu appealed to people going through depression to seek the help of clinical psychologists rather than relying on religious houses alone.

 

Also, a clinical psychologist at the FNPHY, Mrs Oluwakemi Akintoyese, said there was the need for the government to strengthen the mental health department in hospitals. She also called on the National Assembly to pass the Mental Health Bill into law.