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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

The Urgency of Suicide Prevention in Nigeria: A Call to Address Mental Health Challenges Amidst Economic Crisis

The recent tragic incident involving the suicide of 32-year-old banker Amarachi Ugochukwu has brought to light the pressing need for increased awareness and action regarding mental health issues, particularly within the workplace. The distressing note left by Amarachi included concerns about the state of the economy and the resultant hardship she was facing as well…

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…

2023 Mental Health Day: CHELD Sensitises Students on Balancing Studies with Mental Health Needs

As part of its activities to mark the 2023 World Mental Health Day, CHELD organised an interactive session with students of Kuramo Senior College, VI to teach them the importance of balancing their academic demands with their mental well-being.   Some of the topics covered during the session include: overview of mental health, its myths,…