The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) has said it is stunned by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s reported remark that people who attempt suicide should ensure they die rather than survive to face imprisonment.
The association described the remark as dangerous to suicide prevention efforts.
It, however, commended the National Assembly for advancing legislation to decriminalise attempted suicide and urged lawmakers to repeal laws and policies that punish suicide attempt survivors.
The association said the reported remark could reinforce stigma, discourage people experiencing psychological distress from seeking help and undermine efforts to prevent suicide.
The APN said Akpabio should not have joked about such a sensitive issue, urging him to apologise to Nigerians and clarify or retract the reported remark.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr Nyamali Veronica Oluyemisi, the association said survivors of suicide attempts should receive urgent medical and mental healthcare rather than face criminal prosecution.
The reaction followed reports of Akpabio’s comments during a Senate debate on October 13, 2026, on legislation seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and establish a framework for suicide prevention.
“If accurately reported, this language is profoundly troubling and risks communicating a dangerous message to people in acute psychological distress and to their families,” the association said.
The APN said public office holders had a responsibility to use language that protects lives, reduces stigma and encourages people at risk of suicide to seek professional help.
It warned that threats of imprisonment could discourage people from disclosing suicidal thoughts, delay emergency treatment and cause families to conceal suicide attempts for fear of police involvement.
The association cited a 2023 policy brief by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which recommends that countries repeal laws and policies criminalising suicide and suicide attempts.
It also called for stronger mental health services in hospitals, primary healthcare centres, schools and communities, alongside improved referral systems and follow-up care for suicide attempt survivors.
The APN said Nigeria needed a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy involving public education, professional training, reliable data collection and support for families and vulnerable young people.
It maintained that the priority should be to save lives and address the circumstances that drive people to attempt suicide, rather than punish those who survive.
“The correct question is not how to punish a person who survived, but how to understand the crisis, preserve life, prevent another attempt and support recovery,” it said.