As the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day, a mental health organisation, The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI) in Nigeria is saying that the issue of suicide is complicated by outdated and punitive laws that criminalise attempted suicide.

They say this legal approach is not only ineffective but also counterproductive to the goals of mental health care and suicide prevention.

Every year, approximately 703 thousand people die by suicide globally.

According to the MHEI this illustrates its severity.  

To talk to us further on this issue, the founder of MHEI who is also the Convener of the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA) network Ameh Zion Abba spoke to Aurelie Kalenga.