Smokefree mental health services
Smoking prevalence among people with a mental health condition is more than 50% higher than in the general population. As a result, smoking is a leading cause of the 7–25 year reduced life expectancy among people with mental health conditions. The NHS Long Term Plan included a commitment to introduce stop smoking support for users of inpatient mental health services.
Webinars
ASH webinar: Securing a smokefree future for mental health services (October 2021)
This webinar sets out the smoking and mental health components in the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP). It includes evidence updates, best practice case studies, an update from an Early Implementer Site and testimony from mental health service users about how quitting smoking benefitted their mental health.
ASH webinar: Implementing smokefree mental health settings (March 2022)
This webinar focuses on the role that smokefree mental health settings can play in supporting the implementation of NHS Long Term Plan tobacco dependence treatment pathway in mental health settings. It includes local case studies and an update on the introduction of smoking cessation support in community mental health services.
Case study: Restrictive practice and smokefree policies at SLaM NHS FT
In this case study, Mary Yates, Nurse Consultant & Smoke-Free Lead at South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS FT, sets out the key lessons and challenges from SLaM's journey to becoming smokefree.
Resources and guidance
Mental Health and Smoking Partnership
The Partnership is a coalition of organisations committed to reduce rates of smoking among people with mental health conditions. The Partnership website includes resources and information for staff supporting smokers with mental health condition to quit smoking.
Join the Partnership mailing list to receive updates about webinars and resources.
NICE Guidance [NG209] provides specific guidance on treating tobacco dependence in secondary care, mental health services.
Training
National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training e-learning and briefings:
Data
OHID Local Tobacco Control Profiles
The OHID Local Tobacco Control Profiles present national, regional and local tobacco prevalence data on smoking prevalence and inequalities.