Participate in Stoptober for your mental health!

02 Oct 24

As a mental health Trust, we understand that if you’re feeling stress or anxiety, you may want to smoke to try to relieve these feelings. We also know that people with mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression or schizophrenia, are much more likely to smoke than the general population.

However, we want you to know that quitting smoking is possible with the right support in place.

For Stoptober, we are busting some myths about the links between mental health and smoking, and signposting you to helpful resources. Research shows that if you stay smoke-free for 28 days, you’re 5 times more likely to quit for good!

A graphic with two HPFT colleagues holding their hands out with five fingers. Next to this, it shows the Stoptober logo with the text "Stop smoking for Stoptober and you're 5 times more likely to quit for good."

Does smoking help you relax?

It is often thought that smoking can help you to relax – however, this is a temporary effect, and in fact, smoking itself can cause anxiety in the first place. Smoking interferes with chemicals in the brain, and when you haven’t had a cigarette in a while, the craving for another one can cause strong anxiety and irritability.

If you take any antipsychotic medicines or antidepressants, smoking can interfere with how these medications work, which can make you feel worse and create the need for a higher dose.

The best way to break this vicious cycle is to quit smoking – research has shown that this has lots of benefits for mood and anxiety.

The benefits of quitting smoking on mental wellbeing

It is common knowledge that quitting smoking improves your physical health, but did you know that it also benefits your mental health?

Studies have shown that if you quit smoking, you may experience lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress, and a more positive mood. These all contribute to a better quality of life.

I want to quit smoking, but I don’t know where to start.

HPFT’s Tobacco Dependency Team, who support service users within our inpatient services, say:
“The best way for someone to quit smoking is with professional support and advice.”

If you’re ready to quit, let us help you find that support. There are a range of free quitting tools including the NHS Quit Smoking app, daily email support, a Facebook support group, information about quitting smoking with a vape and expert support from local stop smoking services. Simply search ‘Stoptober’ for more information or visit the Better Health Quit Smoking Website.

You can also self-refer into these Stop Smoking services:

• If you live in Hertfordshire, click here
• If you live in Essex, click here
• If you live in Buckinghamshire, click here
• If you live in Norfolk, click here

These services offer many opportunities for support and resources, such as one-to-one sessions with advisors, treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), workbooks and more.

You’ve got this!

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Participate in Stoptober for your mental health!