OPINION: From Punishment to Prevention: Rethinking Suicide Laws in Saint Lucia

By Jaime Young and Rahym R. Augustin-Joseph

In recent times, there have been quiet but impactful calls for the decriminalisation of suicide in Saint Lucia, aligning with other countries such as Guyana, Pakistan, Ghana, and Malaysia, which have recognised that any attempt at suicide is a call for help, not imprisonment. The purpose of criminal law should never be to punish mental illness but rather to offer appropriate psychosocial support and demonstrate the value of life to the victim.

Despite these calls—both locally and internationally, including through the Bridgetown Declaration adopted at the SIDS Ministerial Conference on Mental Health and NCDs—Section 94 of the Criminal Code remains unchanged. Lawmakers appear deaf to the calls for its repeal and for the strengthening of support systems.

Section 94 states in part that any person who aids and abets suicide, whether or not it is actually committed, is liable to imprisonment for 20 years. Under subsection (b), any person who attempts suicide is liable to imprisonment for two years.Since this is not enforced, why should we continue to keep it on the books? Its mere existence provides a legal basis for police intervention. The only way to eliminate this risk is to repeal Section 94 and implement support systems.

The law originated under British colonial rule and was retained after Saint Lucia’s independence. However, suicide was decriminalised in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the 1960s, long before our independence, and was never a crime under Scottish law. Yet it remains in our Criminal Code, risking further harm to those who attempt to end their lives.

Keeping this law does nothing but entrench the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The prevalence of suicide attempts among in-school teenagers in Saint Lucia is 16.2 per cent according to a study entitled Suicidal Behaviour among School-Going Adolescents in Saint Lucia: Analysis of Prevalence and Associated Factors.

The research further states that several in-school factors predict adolescent suicide attempts. Suicide attempts are often linked to violent behaviours, personal psychosocial factors, drug use, and sexual behaviours. For instance, physical fights, attacks, and verbal abuse are all positively connected with suicide attempts among school-aged adolescents. An unsupportive and uncontrolled social environment for school children who have experienced violent attacks leads to intimidation and distress, which can ultimately result in suicide attempts as per the same report by Sarfo et al.

These statistics represent real people whom the criminal law effectively labels as criminals.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Caribbean youth aged 15 to 25. In 2017, almost one in seven adolescent students in Trinidad and Tobago had attempted suicide. In the wider Caribbean, suicide attempts have been increasing, as noted by the Global Mental Health Network.

Survivors of suicide and self-harm require mental health support services, not legal penalties.

As Dr Timothy Morgan, director of the Mental Health Unit at the Ministry of Health in Guyana, stated in 2022 when the equivalent section of Guyana’s law was repealed and replaced with a suicide prevention plan, “Even though it is uncommon for those attempting suicide to be charged or imprisoned in Guyana, the previous law only added another layer of legal complexity to those experiencing emotional distress from contemplating suicide and needing mental healthcare.”

If laws are meant to maintain order, establish societal standards, resolve disputes, and protect individual rights while ensuring an equitable and just society, they must also support vulnerable individuals, including those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Although suicide is not considered a mental illness, the World Health Organisation classifies it as a serious public health issue. Are we really going to criminalise people suffering from a public health crisis?

The criminalisation of suicide has significant psychological and social consequences, often discouraging individuals from seeking help. Instead of addressing the root causes of suicidal ideation—such as mental health struggles, trauma, or economic hardship—criminal laws further stigmatise and isolate those at risk.

The United Nations Human Rights Office has noted that “the criminalisation of suicide fails to recognise that people in crisis need compassion, not punishment, and it creates barriers to seeking timely mental health care”.

In societies where suicide remains a crime, individuals may fear legal repercussions or social condemnation, leading them to suffer in silence. Rather than preventing suicide, the law fosters shame and secrecy, making intervention and prevention efforts even more difficult.

Many people who consider suicide may be struggling with conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety. However, not every individual who experiences suicidal ideation has a diagnosable mental illness. For some, the thought of ending their life may seem more rational than seeking help, especially if they fear legal consequences. They may not consider the pain their loved ones will endure or the suffering they will experience themselves. The fear of legal punishment is, therefore, unlikely to be a deterrent.

If Saint Lucia repeals its laws criminalising suicide, what comes next? Repeal alone does not guarantee the support systems required.

The starting point must be a comprehensive overhaul of the mental health support system in Saint Lucia, beginning with an updated national mental health policy that serves as the foundation for meaningful reform.

Additionally, public education efforts must be intentional, aimed at reshaping perceptions of mental health and dismantling harmful stigmas associated with seeking help. This will require a process of unlearning deeply rooted negative attitudes and fostering a culture where individuals feel safe and encouraged to access available resources.

A critical aspect of this reform is ensuring that adequate support systems are in place for those struggling with mental health challenges. Strengthening and improving the existing suicide hotline are essential to ensuring it is fully staffed, confidential, and accessible 24/7, with trained professionals providing immediate support and crisis intervention.

Additionally, more safe and confidential mental health services must be established, guaranteeing that individuals can seek help without fear of stigma or exposure. Capacity building within the mental health sector is also crucial. More professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and crisis counsellors, need to be trained and equipped to provide specialised care. This requires government investment and sustainable funding to support mental health education, professional development, and the expansion of mental health facilities.

Beyond improving services, targeted public awareness campaigns must be launched to educate communities, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviours. Decriminalisation is only the first step. Real progress will come when individuals in crisis have access to compassionate, professional, and effective support systems, in a society where mental health is treated with the urgency and care it deserves.

Jaime Young is a dedicated family case worker with a BA in Psychology and a passion for youth advocacy. She serves as the National Mental Health Focal Point for Saint Lucia with Let’s Unpack It x UNICEF, championing mental health awareness and support. With years of experience in youth development, she is committed to creating positive change through policy, research, and community engagement.

Rahym R. Augustin-Joseph is the 2025 Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar and an aspiring attorney-at-law. The Saint Lucian is currently a student at UWI Cave Hill, pursuing his LLB, and previously graduated with a degree in political science and law. He frequently contributes to public discourse and scholarship on politics, law, youth, and development.