Is a suicidal attempt a sin, a crime, a curse or a mental health Problem?

To some it’s a sin, to others a crime and to us a mental health struggle! Dr Catherine Syengo Mutisya

“Ni kwa nini uliona Maisha haina maana?” Why did life feel so bad? Do you get suicidal thoughts? Have you thought of ending your life? These are some of the question’s psychiatrists and other mental health specialists who treat depression, alcohol and other drugs of use, those living with chronic illness or extreme life crisis. The stigma associated with suicidal thoughts and suicidal attempts is immense and sometimes can make survivors determination to succeed in their next attempt relentless. Yet suicidal ideation marked by thoughts of self-harm or ending one’s life is a major mental heal emergency and if untreated leads to significant deaths. Suicide affects people of all ages with an estimate of one person dying every 40 seconds. Also, from a public point of view, criminalising suicide makes it hard to collect data which is key in planning for future suicide prevention strategies. Kenya is among the countries that have decriminalized attempted suicide as a result of decades of mental health advocacy. Other countries which Kenya emulated include India, Ghana, and South Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has consistently called for the decriminalization of suicide, noting that such laws are counterproductive and exacerbate mental health crises. And so, in January 2025, when a Kenya’s High Court ruled that criminalising attempted suicide is unconstitutional, there was a glimmer of hope that the door to accessing the highest attainable standard of mental health with less stigma was beginning to open. This marked a significant shift toward compassionate, health-focused approaches to mental health care rather than the archaic punishment way. It is therefore expected that more people struggling with suicidal thoughts would be able to seek treatment and help researchers develop further more effective treatment options and prevention strategies. Furthermore, research has also demonstrated that talking openly about one’s challenges including any possible suicidal thoughts can give an individual various option or the time to rethink decisions, thereby preventing suicide People who die by suicide are said to have deliberately killed theselves yet on the other hand their thoughts constantly remind them that life is not likely to get better. Such persons are also filled by certain religions as having committed a sin and in some African cultures as disgrace and a sign of bad omen. Now that Kenyans have accepted that that those who survive suicidal attempts should be supported and not punished by the law, the next steps include dealing with the cultural and religious undertones by public and targeted campaigns that aim to make the clergy gate keepers. Improving household financial security would also go a long way in preventing suicides. Indeed, financial difficulties in Kenya is a big contribution to mental health crisis. Efforts to reducing access to the common means likely to be used by persons at risk of suicide for example pesticides and substances of abuse and at the same ensuring access to mental health care for all is also a big strategy for preventing suicides. Promoting healthy connections in the communities boosts easy connection, communication and caring for each other hence building strong communities with low levels of loneliness. Training young people on life skills, problem-solving skills, together with social and emotional learning increases resilience which is key to adjusting to life’s ups and downs. As an early life start up pack for babies, parents need to be trained on effective parenting skills and strategies and in return improving family relationships In conclusion, a lot of work needs to be done for Kenya to actualise the desire to improve mental health to be at par with physical health. Preventing suicide requires more commitment and huge investment bearing in mind that there is no health without Mental Health. Decriminalising suicide was the therefore the starting, point and it will require county governments and the national governments to invest more in mental health because for every shilling allocated to mental health there is increased productivity, and savings in economic burdens accrued to mental illnesses The writer is a mental health advocate