LAGOS (AFP) — Nigeria is moving to decriminalize attempted suicide, saying laws that punish people who survive suicide attempts discourage them from seeking help.

Health Minister Mohammed Ali Pate said the government plans to submit a bill to the National Assembly, calling attempted suicide a public health issue rather than a crime.

“Suicide is a major public health concern in Nigeria,” Pate said. “The idea is attempted suicide is not a crime.”

Current laws generally allow up to one year in prison for attempted suicide, while penalties can reach five years in some states.

Nigeria records about 300,000 suicide attempts and at least 7,000 deaths annually, Pate said, citing World Health Organization figures.

Mental health experts warned decriminalization must be paired with better access to care. Nigeria has fewer than 1,000 psychiatrists serving more than 200 million people.

“Decriminalizing suicide must be accompanied by a deliberate expansion of access to quality mental health services. Accessibility must be matched by affordability,” the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria said.

Economic hardship, insecurity, poverty and social isolation are also cited as factors driving suicidal behavior.