Statute Law is written by parliaments and other legislative bodies that create offences alongside other legal rights and obligations. These are found in Acts of Parliaments and the decrees of heads of state (accessed via legal databases, government legislation websites and legal publications). The bodies which created them can change them. As Legislation is law, any changes will also be law. Legislative change requires the mobilisation of individuals and groups to attract the attention of lawmakers and influence their decision-making based on health-based evidence and pressure applied by interest groups.

Common Law, also known as case law, coexists with Statute Law, but is subordinate to it. Case Law is made up of the past decisions of Judges, in which the law is applied to the different factual circumstances that appear before them. These decisions can be accessed through legal databases and law reports. They provide authoritative statements as to the position of the law but also comment on future possibilities to change the law through non binding opinions called obiter dicta. As different factual scenarios and evidence arise or laws change, the decisions courts may make in the future may assist in decriminalising attempted suicide.

The impact of colonialism on the legal system of Grenada, can be seen in many of the nation's laws. These include Section 112 of Chapter 72a Criminal code (2007), which makes it a crime to allow "a house, etc., in town to be used for drumming". While Section 75 (2007) has rules relating to flogging and whipping, which details the method, practice and manufacture of instruments for beating people as a punishment.

Although Grenada gained complete independence in 1974, the country inherited colonial-era laws that still criminalise attempted suicide with the potential punishment of two years in prison and a fine of up to $4,000.

It appears the enforcement of these laws is often avoided: "Attempted suicide resulted in prison sentences in the past. Our view is that generally, in society, we are trying to help persons (who have attempted suicide) rather than prosecute them." Police Constable Samson Sylvester,

In that same article, Former Minister of Social Development, Housing and Community Empowerment Delma Thomas called on people to "work towards ending discrimination and the stigma surrounding mental illness."

Nonetheless, these punitive measures perpetuate stigma and hinder providing appropriate mental health support to individuals in crisis. The colonial-era laws do not align with modern mental health care principles and emphasised punishment over assistance.

The Government legislation website only features a copy of the Criminal Code updated to 2007. The Government Database recommends, “Laws are amended from time to time, users should consult the printed official text available from the Government Printery.”

Attempted suicide is listed in Chapter 72a, Criminal Code (last amended 2007) as a misdemeanour, pursuant to section 233 of the Code, as follows: Whoever attempts to commit suicide is guilty of a misdemeanour. The punishment for it is not specified, a person convicted thereof shall be liable to imprisonment for two years, or to a fine of four thousand dollars, or to both.

The government legislation website shows amendments to the Criminal Code through the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 and the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2013. Neither of these amending acts removed attempted suicide as an offence.

No Acts have been published for this year, 2023.

There are mentions in other reviews (WHO 2009) and (WHO 2017) of the Mental Health ACT 2008/9 but no copies are available online. The WHO-Aims Report on Mental Health in Grenada (2009) In collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Grenada contains detailed information of the state of Mental Health in the small island nation:

• In 2009, there was no mental health authority or director of the mental health program.
• Lack of a national mental health information system and annual reporting mechanism
• Legislation includes: Mental Health Policy (2006), Mental Health Plan (2006), Mental Health Act (2008)
• Guiding principles of the draft mental health policy: equity, human rights, evidence-based care, quality services, integration, community involvement, and cultural sensitivity
• Policy objectives: reduce mental disorder burden, promote mental health, protect human rights, provide equitable access to quality mental health care
• Mental Health Act (2008) for the treatment and care of persons with mental disorders
• Act structure: Interpretation, Administration, Admission and Hospitalisation of Patients, Community Mental Health Service, Protection of Patient Property, General Matters, Schedule with 21 forms
• The National Insurance Scheme covers mental health problems.
• Free access to essential psychotropic medicines for the entire population
• Prevalence of schizophrenia and related disorders in mental health diagnoses
• Availability of psychotropic drugs but no long-term risk-benefit assessment
• Public health sector hospitals: General Hospital, Princess Alice, Princess Royal
• Mt. Gay Psychiatric Hospital was the sole mental hospital: 80-bed, 20-bed inpatient unit, and five primary health care centres with community mental health teams. Staffing includes two psychiatrists and 16 trained mental nurses.
• Mt. Gay Hospital is part of "Richmond Hill Institutions."
• The mental health budget was allocated under "Hospital Services."
• 5% of the National Health Services' budget allocated to Richmond Hill Institutions
• There is no provision for the accreditation of professionals and facilities.

There is no mention of mental health, psychiatry, self-harm or suicide in the Public Health Act (1981).

The only document available online is the Mental Hospitals Act (1895), which needs to be corrected.

Newspaper articles from 2020 state that at the time of publication, attempted suicide remained a crime.

Grenada is a signatory to several international treaties and covenants, particularly The United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - the "International Bill of Human Rights". It has agreed to "recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health","assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness," and, "take adequate measures ... to prevent suicides."

Grenada is also a member of theWorld Health Organisation, which states in its preamble that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being” and that “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.” Preambles provide context to the agreement.

In 2023, a panel was formed to begin discussing the need to create a National Suicide Prevention Strategy as per the advice from the World Health Organisation, this is one of its key activities in a movement towards decriminalising suicide.

Grenada is a relatively small country, both in population and size; this means that even low numbers of suicides per annum have a devastating impact in the broader community. The WHO indicates that for every death by suicide, there are 20 more people who consider it. The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) reports that there are between 5 and 6 suicides per year. Putting these two statistics together mean there are approximately 100 or more Grenadan citizens who attempt suicide each year.

Nationwide natural disasters like hurricanes, Ivan and Emily, increase the risk of suicide and can impact society for a decade. In this case, the storms of 2004 and 2005 wiped out 95% of Grenada's nutmeg industry. It takes four to six years for a tree to produce fruit and more than 20 years to reach full production. The primary industry of Grenada is only now on the cusp of full recovery, and the social impact of that is finally abating.

Grenada is a relatively devout Christian country, with more than 97% of the country counting themselves among the faithful. When England removed suicide from their laws in 1961, the country left it to the Church to resolve how to treat members of the congregation who died by their own hand. The Catholic Church finally removed the prohibition against religious burials for suicides in 1986. The Church of England General Synod didn't remove it until 2017.

The Constitution protects freedom of conscience, including freedom of thought and religion. According to a 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom, the most recent available statistics are from 2011. It says there are more than 18 religious groups registered in the country. That includes Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist, and Mennonite communities. Smaller groups are Brethren, Baha'is, Hindus, Moravians, Muslims, Mennonites, Church of Jesus Christ, the Salvation Army and the Jewish community - all with fewer than 1,000 members. Key organisations which could be motivated to assist in the decriminalisation and prevention of suicide include The Conference of Churches Grenada (CCG) - an ecumenical Christian body, the Islamic Foundation and the Chabad Jewish Center of Grenada.

Facebook is the primary communication platform for Grenada's Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Religious Affairs. The Ministry is actively addressing the need for Suicide Prevention in Grenada with government support. The Ministry, with input from with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), declared 2023 to be the Year of Mental Health and Wellness. Initiatives include training health workers in the mhGAP suicide module, hosting a "Let's Talk Mental Health" video conference, and consultations for developing a National Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan.

On World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2023), a public awareness march took place in St. George, Grenada, promoting a positive perspective on mental health.

The handwritten slogans in the photos from the day suggest a desire to reframe suicide crisis support and mental health generally in a more positive light.

• Mental Health Matters
• Tell your victory story
• Don't judge me because of mental illness
• Mental illness is not a choice, but recovery is.
• Mental illness is only a disease. It can be treated.
• I am bigger than mental illness.

In July 2023, The Ministry of Social and Community Development released a statement on suicide. It encourages people to seek professional help. The statement included numbers to call for support, including the Sweet Water Foundation.

Several articles online mention the formation of a Psycho-Social Support Unit at the Ministry of Social and Community Development Housing and Gender Affairs.

There are also mentions that the legislation was being reviewed in 2022 and 2023. The second article cites a Psycho-Social Support Unit at the Ministry of Social and Community Development Housing and Gender Affairs. Contact information for the unit is not available online.

There is currently no National Suicide Prevention Strategy. Although there is consultation currently being conducted on the subject. The World Health Organization handbook, "National Suicide Prevention Strategies, Progress, Examples, and Indicators," offers insights into effective suicide prevention practices worldwide. It is a resource for governments and organizations working to reduce suicide rates by sharing valuable information, best practices, and indicators to measure the success of these efforts.

According to Find a Helpline - There is currently no dedicated suicide crisis line although there is the Sweet Water Foundation - Sexual Abuse Line

Crisis Lines https://findahelpline.com/