Country Profile
Sierra Leone
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Are You In A Crisis Right Now?
Sierra Leone
Is Suicide Decriminalised?
Has the country decriminalised suicide, with clear legal frameworks and policy positions?
No
Are Crisis Lines Available?
Is free, confidential support from a helpline or hotline available? Status provided by find a helpline.
No
National Suicide Prevention Strategy?
Is there a national suicide prevention strategy, such as from the WHO, and does include decriminalisation, if known?
Uncertain
Population in Need of Support Per Year
Based on the WHO likely attempted suicide rate.
As a calculation of population size against suicide rate
Strength Of Support (Local Qualitative Assessment)
Population
Suicide Rate Per 100K Per Year, all Sexes (SDG 3.4.2)
per 100,000
WHO 2019 for SDG 3.4.2. Global average 1 per 100,000
Suicide Deaths Per Year (By Population)
per annum
As a calculation of population size against suicide rate
Sierra Leone, officially known as the Republic of Sierra Leone, is located on the west coast of Africa. Sierra Leone's culinary heritage includes dishes like "jollof rice" and "cassava leaves stew," offering a delightful taste of local flavours and spices. The sounds of West African drumming and storytelling through oral poetry preserve and share the country's history and traditions. Islam and Christianity are the dominant faiths in Sierra Leone, with indigenous African beliefs and practices, including those of the Mende and Temne peoples.
The legal system in Sierra Leone combines English common law and Customary Law. These legal systems often overlap in personal and family matters related to marriage and inheritance.
Like many other nations, Sierra Leone inherited colonial-era laws from the British Empire when, historically, suicide was a crime. Although suicide was struck from the statutes in England in 1961, it has remained in the corpus of other laws around the world, including in Sierra Leone
The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for the decriminalisation of suicide and suicide attempts. Finding out more and removing such laws removes stigma and allows avenues for providing appropriate mental health support to individuals in crisis.
Criminalising suicide punishes distress. Decriminalising suicide saves lives.
This country profile has been compiled from available research and verified as well as possible. If you wish to supply clarifications, updates, feedback, facts or data, please use the Contact Us form on this page. And if you want your country to take ownership of managing and sharing this information, and progress being made, please register your interest in participating via our Get Involved form.
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