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NHS challenged on stop smoking support for people with mental ill health
Produced by the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network, Smoking and mental health presents a startling picture of the disproportionate impact smoking has on mental health services and service users:
- one third of people with mental health problems smoke regularly, compared with one fifth among the rest of the population
- up to 70 per cent of patients in mental health units smoke, with 50 per cent described as heavy smokers
- smoking adds up to £40 million to the UK's psychotropic drug costs, due to the impact of smoking on metabolisation of many psychiatric drugs.
The report, which is published two weeks before the start of the annual nationwide 'Stoptober' campaign, calls on mental health providers to examine the work their organisations are doing to help service users quit smoking. It incorporates a list of ‘key questions’ for boards to consider and challenges the wider NHS to play its part.
Stephen Dalton, chief executive of the Mental Health Network, said:
"The effect of smoking on physical health is well known but we would be remiss if we ignore its impact on mental health. People with serious mental illness die up to 25 years earlier than their mentally healthy counterparts. If we are genuine about putting mental health on a par with physical health, we need to face up to the fact that smoking is responsible for a significant amount of the excess mortality of people with severe mental health problems.
No-one is suggesting that boards ride roughshod over the needs and preferences of patients, but we're currently in danger of sending a message to some of those at highest risk of being damaged by cigarettes that it's ok to smoke. It's a curious situation that you can't smoke in the pub but you can in hospital.
"I'm not pretending it's not difficult, but there is nothing about enabling unwell and vulnerable people to smoke that is in their best interests. What our report addresses is what can and has been achieved and what more can be and should be done."
Smoking and mental health examines the evidence about how best to reduce smoking among mental health service users. It finds that many want to stop smoking and can with tailored interventions and enhanced support.
The briefing includes detailed case studies of work in this field by three mental health service providers since the implementation of smoke-free legislation for mental health facilities in 2008.
Mr Dalton added:
"We know people with mental health conditions can take longer to engage with stop smoking services, or require higher levels of support, but we must consider the whole person, not just their mental health in isolation. Helping service users to quit smoking is about delivering on public health priorities and securing long term health benefits.''
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