A Legal Examination of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Nigeria

Introduction The ability to lead happy lives is intricately tied to our mental health, a vital component of human well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act daily. It also influences our relationships, productivity, and overall quality of life.[1] Unfortunately, mental health issues are a global concern,[2] and one of the gravest consequences of…

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Becoming Allies: Engaging Secondary Boys as Allies and Bystanders in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence

In 2021, the Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD) conducted a pivotal study to explore the role of men and boys in gender-based violence (GBV) interventions within Nigerian tertiary institutions. The research revealed a significant gap in the engagement strategies employed by Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs). Specifically, it highlighted that men and boys…

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Annual Report 2023

CHELD is a governmental organisation registered in Nigeria and established in 2010. We are a research think-tank and an implementer in public health, mental health, child health and survival, gender-based violence, NCDs, and migration, and their intersections with health, amongst other areas of interest. 2023 was an important year for us at CHELD. Our work…

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Photo News from World Mental Health Day.

L-R: National Coordinator, National Mental Health Program, FMoH, Dr Tunde Masseyferguson Ojoh; Permanent Secretary, FMOH, Daju Kachulom; Director, Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, FMoH, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike and Executive Director, Center for Health Ethics Law and Development, Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, during the Commemoration of World Mental Health Day and Launching of Contextualized MHGAP 3.0…

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FG moves to decriminalise attempted suicide, establishes national taskforce

The Federal Government has established the National Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide. The inauguration, which took place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, coincided with the World Mental Health Day. The primary goal of the Taskforce is the development of an action plan for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in Nigeria and the aftermath.…

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Mental Health Support to the people of Maiduguri

Centre For Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD) in partnership with Asido Foundation and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, is working to provide mental health support to the people of Maiduguri in the aftermath of the recent flooding disaster which has left many in significant trauma. The recent flooding in Maiduguri has shattered families, searching…

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Experts call for speedy implementation of National Mental Health Act

Mental health experts have called on the Federal Government to work towards the speedy implementation of the National Mental Health Act to ensure the well-being of individuals and society. The experts recently made this call during a virtual meeting organised by the Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD), themed ‘Implementing the National Mental…

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Implementing the National Mental Health Act: A Focus on Suicide and Attempted Suicide

The House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare chaired by Hon. Dr. Alex Egbona held an interactive session with stakeholders on the need to prioritize and implement the provisions of the Mental Health Act to tackle suicide and suicidality in Nigeria. Stakeholders from the government, neuropsychiatric hospitals, professional associations, the development sector, and civil society…

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Implementation of the National Mental Health Act 2021: Urgent Call for the Establishment of the Department of Mental Health Services and the Composition of the Mental Health Assessment Committee

1.1           Introduction Prior to the operational commencement of the National Mental Health Act 2021 on 28th December 2022, the Lunacy Act 1958[1] regulated mental health disorders in Nigeria. The Lunacy Act 1958 began as a lunacy Ordinance 1916. The quest for comprehensive mental health legislation that aligns with contemporary best practices can be traced to…

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Single-Use Plastic Ban in Lagos: Implications for Public Health and Climate Change

Recently the Lagos state government placed a ban on Styrofoam and other single-use plastic products. The ban aims to curtail the environmental menace these products constitutes in the State. Widely used throughout the State by canteens, cafeterias and other types of food sellers serving the 20- million population of the one of the most densely…

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