The Coalition of Diagnostic and Wellness Associations (CODWA) has strongly criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his recent remarks calling for the imprisonment of individuals who survive suicide attempts, describing the stance as insensitive, archaic, and deeply detrimental to public health.

In a strongly worded statement released in response to Akpabio’s comments, CODWA highlighted the dire state of mental healthcare in Nigeria, pointing out that fewer than 300 qualified psychiatrists are currently serving a population estimated at over 220 million people.

The coalition argued that criminalizing suicide attempts instead of addressing the root causes—such as severe economic hardship, depression, trauma, and systemic neglect—shows a profound lack of understanding regarding mental health crises.

CODWA emphasized that suicide is a public health emergency rather than a criminal offense, noting that criminalization only drives struggling individuals further into isolation and prevents them from seeking life-saving medical help.

The association called on lawmakers and government officials to repeal outdated laws that punish mental illness, invest heavily in psychiatric infrastructure, and launch comprehensive national mental health support systems across the country.