A Cross-sectional Study of Suicide Literacy, Attitudes Towards Suicide Attempters and Decriminalization of the Anti-Suicide Law among Lawyers in Nigeria DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajhs.v37i3.1

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Suicide literacy is suspected to be poor and attitudes towards suicide attempters are sometimes negative in Nigeria. Besides, a suicide attempt is a misdemeanour criminalized under Nigerian law and the attitude towards this legal provision is uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of lawyers in Benin City about suicide, their attitudes towards suicide attempters and the anti-suicide law.
METHODOLOGY
It was a descriptive study. Lawyers were drawn into the study by a convenience sampling of the participants who attended a conference of lawyers in Benin City. An additional sample was obtained by a snowballing approach of the lawyers within the city. Participants filled out a paper questionnaire consisting of a socio-demographic section, the Suicide Knowledge Subscale (SKS), and eight other relevant questions designed to meet the study’s objectives.
RESULTS
Eighty-seven lawyers completely and correctly filled out the questionnaire. The participants were of equal male-to-female ratio and mostly private defence lawyers (74.4%). Suicide literacy was more than average in only four out of the nine items of the SKS. About one-half and one-fifth had accurate knowledge of the provision of the Criminal Code and the Penal Code respectively of the Nigerian anti-suicide laws. A majority (55.3%) opined that the current state of the law was good enough. About two-thirds of the participants (64%) agreed to defend rather than prosecute someone who has attempted suicide.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Suicide literacy is low among lawyers. Further, many of the lawyers exhibited poor knowledge concerning the criminal provision of the laws on suicide. They also expressed a mixture of negative/positive attitudes towards those who attempt suicide. There is a need to train them on suicide and anti-suicide legislation.