Smoking and mental health
Smoking prevalence is significantly higher in people with mental health problems than among the general population. People with psychotic disorders who live in institutions are particularly vulnerable: over 70% of this group smoke including 52% who are heavy smokers.
A significant proportion of people with schizophrenia recognises that smoking is a problem, want to quit and will attend smoking cessation therapy. More than half (52%) of schizophrenic smokers living in institutions wanted to give up smoking.
Faculty of Public Health position statement (External PDF)
Position statement on mental health and smoking produced by the Faculty of Public Health and endorsed by ASH and a number of other health organisations.
Challenging the smoking culture within a mental health service supportively (External Web Page)
Smoking is an entrenched part of the culture of mental health care services. This paper discusses the smoking culture in mental health care settings and demonstrates a supportive model to engage staff to actively address their tobacco use and to influence a change in smoking-related workplace policy, practice, and culture. Paper by Paul Reilly, Leeann Murphy and Deirdre Alderton, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.
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Smoking and Mental Health: a review of the literature
Dr Ann McNeill, an independent consultant and honorary lecturer in Public Health conducts a comprehensive review of available literature on the relationship between smoking and clinically diagnosed mental health problems.
Report on the Smoking and Mental Health Symposium (External Web Page)
9th November 2001: Symposium held at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in London. More than 150 people attended, including mental health professionals, smoking cessation advisers, government representatives and other parties. The symposium focussed on the broad issue of smoking and mental health which is an important, but poorly addressed public health concern.
Smoking and Mental Health Symposium
Agenda for the symposium on smoking and mental health.
