We recently featured in this column, discussions about the suicidal attempt in Nigeria, with a view towards establishing whether it should be viewed as a crime or a cry for help/sign of mental illness. This elicited several comments from readers, one of whom forwarded a newspaper report about a young man who had been prosecuted at a Magistrate Court in Lagos for attempted suicide and had submitted a guilty plea.
The case had been adjourned for sentencing and was scheduled for the 10th July 2018. I immediately shared this information via social media and requested for volunteers in Lagos, and legal practitioners to provide recommendations on how best to assist this young man.
Several people responded and I want to especially celebrate two models who provided very positive interventions….as role models and to increase awareness about their activities. Hopefully, more people can benefit from their services.
Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD)
The CHELD was established in 2010, as a non-profit initiative that is based in Lagos, with the aim of utilising law, policy, ethics promotion and research, as well as practical health development projects to improve public health in Nigeria and Africa at large (www.cheld.org). The Founder/Executive Director, Dr Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, a lawyer by training, swung into action and appeared in court on the appointed day for sentencing, with her team.
Their constructive engagement with the lawyers at the court as well as the Magistrate – who was also very willing to assist in any way possible to allow for a satisfactory disposition- resulted in the release of the young man into the custody of CHELD.
However, this was with the proviso that the young man will be afforded the mental health care that he required, as well as effective rehabilitation. CHELD guaranteed to ensure these conditions would be satisfied; and the young man was subsequently released to them, instead of being sentenced.  And this is where the second actor came in handy.
Suicide Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (SURPIN)
The SURPIN is an initiative of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in response to the rising cases of suicide and suicidal behaviours in Nigeria and in Lagos especially.
The coordinator of SURPIN, Dr Raphael E. Ogbolu, is a Consultant Psychiatrist, with specialisation in Psychiatric Emergencies and Consultation-Liaison services. The SURPIN has hotlines and has stepped in to rescue several persons in distress who have reached out to them from across the country.
Their major role has been helping such individuals to access care by linking them with psychiatric services closest to them. Their hotlines are 09080217555; 09034400009, 0811109909; and 07013811143.
In this instance of the young man above, the SURPIN group led by Dr Ogbolu has been collaborating with CHELD. They have received the young man and are providing the necessary expertise for his mental health treatment and rehabilitation.  This is the power of synergy and collaboration to effect positive impact.
Conclusion
The complexity of suicidal behaviour and the associated challenges necessitate that affected individuals (and their families) are afforded the care they require to overcome the challenges. Criminal prosecution and jail term are not helpful ways to dispose of such cases.
This situation (criminalisation of suicidal behaviour) is within the purview of state legislation and efforts should focus on each state reviewing their legislation as may be appropriate. Constructive engagement with the State Houses of Assembly should translate into positive outcomes in the long run.
In the interim, citizen advocacy and engagement can translate into pockets of a meaningful impact as clearly demonstrated by the case of the young man illustrated above. CHELD and SURPIN stepped forward and have made the difference.
We need to encourage them and others too – indeed every one of us, to step forward and be counted. Let’s spread the message: stop the stigma against mental health problems. Be part of the solutions in your sphere of influence, not part of the problem.
and then