Dr Boniface Chitayi, who represented the Kenya Psychiatric Association in the petition, cited World Health Organization (WHO) statistics showing that suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 years and ranks among the top ten causes of death across all age groups.
He further noted that approximately 700,000 people die by suicide annually worldwide.
Reports from police records in August 2021 revealed that 483 Kenyans had died by suicide in the previous three months. "Decriminalizing attempted suicide will increase access to mental healthcare, reduce stigma and discrimination, lessen the fear of seeking help, strengthen social support systems, and ultimately reduce deaths by suicide," Chitayi argued. .Keep ReadingKMA calls for action on intern mental health after Dr Obwogi's deathRising suicide rates among Kenyan medicsFight to decriminalise attempted suicide gains momentum as cases surgeFoggy living: Struggles of those trapped in mental ailmentsHowever, the judgement is the beginning of yet another journey to destigmatise mental health disorders in the community.
Professor Lukoye Atwoli, the Deputy Director of the Brain and Mind Institute at Aga Khan University and Dean of the Medical College celebrated the court's decision as a major victory for both mental health advocacy and the broader population. "Nobody is immune to mental health issues.
