According to the ministry of health approximately, 700,000 people commit suicide every year. Most cases occur in countries characterised by low and middle income such as Kenya.
Due to this, the ministry of health wants the government to declare suicide as a public health emergency.
According to reports, Suicide has been the ranking ways that has caused mortality among so many people in this country.
The ministry went ahead to state that attempted suicide should not be criminalised act.
The acting director general for health, Patrick Amoth said,” While this may not directly reduces cases pf people trying to kill themselves, it will reduce the stigma and encourage them to seek medical help instead.”
In reference to the constitution, section 226, attempted suicide is an act that is punishable by two years imrisonment or a fine.
In the past, most people who have attempted suicide were not imprisoned, they however were takes to the Mathere mental hospital for a period of time.
Efforts to amend the law regarding suicide have seemed in vain. He stated,” We once tried to amemd the law but we are told by the health committee, trying to male major amendments to the penal code was unnecessary.”
The acting director general for health yesterday launched the suicide prevention strategy 2021-2026. Last year the senate removed completely suicide from the list of crimes in the amendment bill 2021, the bill was however stuck at the second reading before the house took a break for elections.
The Clinical Psychologists Asssociation of Kenya stated that suicide cases are underestimated. Led by Rachel Maina, she said that the new policy’s aim is to reduce mortality by 10%.
She,Maina, said they will achieve this if attempted suicide is decriminalized.
She said,” It is calling for a national suicide prevention program with the role to restrict means, conduct surveillance, education and improve access to treatment.”
She went ahead to state that men die by suicide twice as much as women because their ways are more dangerous.