Promoting mental health

Towards a smoke-free life

Smoking rates are at least twice as high among mental health patients than in the general population. Heavy smoking not only affects you physical health, it is also linked to anxiety and depression.

Some facts about mental health and smoking

• UK surveys report that around 50 per cent of smokers with mental health problems want to quit
• smoking cessation treatments are just as effective for people with mental health problems as for the rest of the population
• quitting does not make psychiatric symptoms worse - it can actually help lower anxiety levels
   

Smoke-Free Minds

The Trust's 'Smoke Free Minds' programme is aimed specifically at helping mental health service users quit.  More than 200 staff have been trained to deliver stop-smoking assistance, and more than 70 have trained as NHS Stop Smoking Advisors. This makes 'Smoke Free Minds' the largest programme of its kind in the UK. 

The programme is coordinated by Anthony Aclet, Merton Specialist Stop-Smoking Advisor and Physical Health Lead.
 

Benefits of a smoke-free life

Stopping smoking will have positive effects on your physical and financial health and it can also improve your mental health. Giving up can boost your self-esteem and lesson symptoms of anxiety and depression. There are also financial advantages which can widen opportunities for socialising and hobbies and lead to a better quality of life.
 

Get help today

If you are a service user and are keen to give up smoking, you can do one of the following:

• request a referral to Smoke-Free Minds from a member of staff responsible for your care.
• contact Anthony Aclet on 07590 445 168 or 020 8682 6824.

Stopping smoking can have an effect on prescribed medicines which may require a lower dosage. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist that you want to give up smoking.

Stop-smoking clinics in the borough of Merton >>
 

Useful links

• Smoke-free Wandsworth (external link) - help for those living in Wandsworth
• Give up for Good (external link) – help and support for giving up smoking for those living in Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth
• NHS Stop Smoking Helpline (external link)
• Quitline (external link)