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Webinar
Mental Health

Event presentations: Accelerating progress for smokers with mental health conditions conference

Mental Health and Smoking Partnership
Jun 2023

Hosted by the Mental Health & Smoking Partnership and the University of York Mental Health and Addiction Research Group (MHARG), this event brought together leading experts in mental health, public health and tobacco control to discuss how the smokefree 2030 ambition can be realised for people with mental health conditions. The event covered key topics such as the scale of the issue, implementing smokefree policies in mental health settings, the experience of service users and mental health professionals, looking beyond mainstream mental health settings and the role e-cigarettes will play in achieiving Smokefree 2030.

The recordings of the presentations and the slidesets can be seen below and will be separated into the following sections:

  • The scale of the current problem
  • Implementing change
  • The experiences of service users and mental health professionals
  • Looking beyond mainstream mental health settings
  • The role of e-cigarettes

The scale of the current problem

Policy Context - Hazel Cheeseman

Hazel Cheeseman, Deputy Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), describes the current policy context surrounding the high rates of smoking prevalence amongst those with mental health conditions. The slideset is available here.

The link between smoking and poor mental health - Dr Debbie Robson

Dr Debbie Robson, Senior Lecturer in Tobacco Harm Reduction at King's College London, explores the link between smoking and poor mental health. The slideset is available here.

See also: ASH - Is there a causal effect of smoking on mental health?

How long have we known that interventions work - Professor Simon Gilbody

Professor Simon Gilbody, Professor of Psychological Medicine & Psychiatric Epidemiology and Director of the York Mental Health & Addictions Research Group, explores what we know about what interventions work for smokers with mental health conditions. The slideset is available here.

See also: The SCIMITAR programme

Implementing change

Quality Improvement in Tobacco Treatment - Emily Cannon

Emily Cannon, Head of Quality Improvement at the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH), discusses the Quality Improvement in Tobacco Treatment (QuITT) programme which seeks to increase the percentage of patients on mental health wards who are engaged in meaningful tobacco treatment. Slides are available here.

Early implementer stop smoking services in community mental health settings - Phoebe Barnett

Phoebe Barnett, Research Fellow at the University College London, discusses initial findings from pilot stop smoking services in community mental health settings. Slides are available here.

Implementing smokefree policies in an inpatient setting - Helen Philips

Helen Philips, the drug, alcohol and smokefree lead at Berkshire Healthcare, discusses the process of implementing smokefree practices in an inpatient mental health setting. Helen explores the challenges and benefits of doing so. The slideset is available here.

Testing the smokefree app in early prevention services - Dr Chelsea Sawyer

Dr Chelsea Sawyer, Research Associate at the University of Manchester, discusses a study which examined the feasability and acceptability of using smoking cessation apps for smokers with schizophrenia. The slideset is available here.

The experiences of service users and mental health professionals

My smoking story - Hannah Moore

In this presentation, Hannah Moore, Vice-Chair of the Expert by Experience Group at Equally Well, discusses her experience of being a smoker whilst being a patient in a mental health setting. The slideset is available here.

See also: ASH - 7 tips for helping smokers with mental health problems QUIT

The attitudes of mental health professionals - Lucy Furby

In this presentation, Lucy Furby, Public Health Registrar with East London NHS Foundation Trust, discusses the results from the Smokefree Skills survey that explored the training needs of mental health nurses and psychiatrists in order for them to have better awareness of smoking as an issue amongst their patients and training in how to support quit attempts. The slideset is available here.

See also: Smokefree Skills - Training needs of mental health nurses and psychiatrists | Webinar: Do mental health professionals have the training they need to tackle smoking?

An introduction to co-production - Mark Farmer

In this presentation, Mark Farmer, a member of the Co-production Advisory Group at NHS England, explores what co-production is and the role it can play in transforming patient care. The slideset is available here.

Looking beyond mainstream mental health settings

Overcoming obstacles to smoking cessation in general hospitals - Dr Peter Byrne

Dr Peter Byrne, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at Royal London Hospital, discusses the obstacles to smoking cessation in acute hospitals and presents solutions to overcoming these obstacles. The slideset is available here.

Social housing providers - Stephanie Noyce

Stephanie Noyce, the Head of Money and Digital Inclusion, Clarion Housing group, discusses the smoking cessation service pilot that has been embedded into their money guidance service and how this can residents quit smoking and become more financially resilient. The slideset is available here.

See also: ASH - Smoking and social housing: Supporting residents, addressing inequalities

Inclusion health groups - Professor Ann McNeill and Dr Debbie Robson

Professor Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction in the Department of Addictions at King's College London and Dr Debbie Robson, Senior Lecturer in Tobacco Harm Reduction at King's College London, talks about what inclusion groups are, the high rates of smoking prevalence within these groups, and pilot studies that aim to bring down the high rates of smoking in these groups. The slideset is available here.

The role of e-cigarettes

Vaping: Evidence of risk and effectiveness - Dr Debbie Robson

Dr Debbie Robson, Senior Lecturer in Tobacco Harm Reduction at King's College London, explores the relative risk of vaping compared to smoking and not smoking. Dr Robson also looks at evidence that highlights the effectiveness of vaping as a smoking cessation aid. The slideset is available here.

See also: Mental Health and Smoking Partnership - Use of electronic cigarettes by people with mental health problems: A guide for health professionals

Findings from the ESCAPE study - Professor Lion Shahab

Professor Leon Shahab, Professor of Health Psychology, University Campus London, goes through the findings of the 'E-cigarettes for Smoking Cessation And reduction in People with mEntal illness' (ESCAPE) study. The slideset is available here.