A common myth is that smoking benefits mental health because people believe it aids relaxation. However, one of the biggest harms to the mental and physical health of people living with a mental illness comes from smoking.
Research evidence increasingly indicates long-term smoking is actually associated with adverse mental health effects. In contrast, a reduction in smoking is proven to improve both mental wellbeing and physical health.
Smokers with mental health issues make up a third of total UK tobacco use, but are four times more likely to develop smoking related conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Smoking and Mental Health
Support for patients
Patients who smoke will have a nicotine assessment carried out on or prior to admission to mental health inpatient units in NHS Tayside. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available to all patients to abstain from smoking on admission and if patients wish to stop smoking on discharge, a referral will be made to the community pharmacy smoking cessation services.
Did you know that you can get support to quit smoking?
Quit Your Way Tayside is a FREE smoking cessation support service delivered through local pharmacies.
Pharmacy staff will assist in the development of a smoking cessation plan and will provide treatment and behavioural support through the quit journey.
You can also access the NHS Tayside Quit Your Way Helpline:
NHS Tayside - Quit Your Way
Telephone 01382 424127
(24-hour answerphone but is also manned between 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday-Friday)
Pharmacy staff will assist in the development of a smoking cessation plan and will provide treatment and behavioural support through the quit journey.
You can also access the NHS Tayside Quit Your Way Helpline:
NHS Tayside - Quit Your Way
Telephone 01382 424127
(24-hour answerphone but is also manned between 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday-Friday)
