Smoking Cessation

Quit smoking in mental health settings

Extending NHS Stop Smoking Services to people with mental health conditions: A survey of NHS Stop Smoking Services in London 

This survey was commissioned by Commissionig Support for London and carried out in collaboration with Smoke Free London and the Smoke Free Minds Project Group. The aim of the survey was to examine NHS Stop Smoking Service Support in London for People Living with Mental Health Problems. The survey gathered the opinions of Stop Smoking Service managers on the extent and quality of service provision, as well as on what will be required for service improvement.

A key finding of the survey was that there is general concern about the lack of guidance on how NHS Stop Smoking Services can safely and effectively treat people with mental health problems.  While there was an overwhelming desire to not exclude people with mental health issues, services were aware that if they don’t ask the appropriate questions and take the right actions then problems can occur (e.g. dangerous changes in medication metabolism, relapses in depression).  In short, the urgent need for information and training was expressed.

In response to this, Commissioning Support for London in collaboration with Smoke Free Minds is running a series of six FREE specialist training NHS Stop Smoking Services on Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions to Quit Smoking.  We will present ways of offering people with mental health problems a socially inclusive, effective and safe service.  The training will take place in January and February 2010.

To find out more about the training contact: Traci Aina

An overview of the survey report can be downloaded here.