By Austin Ogwuda
FOUNDER of Asido Foundation, Dr Jibril Abdulmalik has called on the federal government to urgently review the Law stipulating jail sentence for attempted suicide, noting that medical evidence had shown that all over the world, 80-90 per cent of those who attempted suicide had background mental illness, especially depression.
Asido Foundation is a non-governmental organisation promoting mental health advocacy and reforms with a view to improving awareness, reducing stigma, discrimination and empowering persons with mental disorders and their families.
Dr. Abdulmalik stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
He used the opportunity to call on the federal government to and the implement the Mental Health Act signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023.
Said he, “It is because of sense of hopelessness that makes them get to the edge where they think they are better off dying.
“In that situation what they need is help and treatment, not punishment and incarceration. We know the workload is heavy for our judicial officers. We don’t want them overburdened with cases that should ordinarily go to the hospitals”, he counseled.
Responding on behalf of the Minister, the Special Adviser to the President on Communications and Publicity, Office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele assured the Foundation that health is one of the priority areas of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, promising a review.
According to him, “The Law is something we have to take a second look at, especially where it is established that the offenders are not in the right state of mind. What the offenders need is pity, treatment and love so as to rid society of this kind of situation.
“But whatever we do is not binding on the States. So, I will take the case to the Body of Attorneys-General”, he stated, while promising to take up the issues around the Mental Health Act with his colleagues in the Federal Ministry of Health.
*Photo: Credit to Sahara Reporters
*Caption: 21-year-old Odunare Olalekan, sitting on the handrail of Berger Bridge before suddenly jumping into a lagoon in December
2021.