Improving access to stop smoking support for people with mental health problems
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200700003 |
| Date | 01 March 2007 |
| Pages | 10-19 |
| Published date | 01 March 2007 |
| Author | Nerys Edmonds,Jane Bremner |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
The physical health inequalities experienced by people with severe mental health problems are now
well recognised. Lifestyle factors,in particular high rates of smoking, have been identified as a major
contributor to the raised mortality and morbidity in this population. A programme was developed
in West Surrey to address smoking cessation support needs in people with mental health problems.
Mental health workers were trained to deliver stop smoking suppor t and a pilot programme of one-
to-one stop smoking supportwas established. An evaluation was conducted using semi-structured
interviews to explore clients’ experiences of receiving the one-to-one support. Service users
positively evaluated the support they had received: in particular,the needs-led, flexible approach.The
study provides further insights into the views and experiences of people with mental health problems
undertaking a smoking cessation programme.
Improving access to stop
smoking support for people
with mental health problems
Nerys Edmonds
Mental health
promotion specialist
Surrey PCT
Jane Bremner
Policy and
commissioning officer✻
Bracknell Forest
Borough Council
✻formerly health
promotion specialist
(coronary heart disease
and cancers),
Surrey PCT
Correspondence to:
Nerys Edmonds
Mental health
promotion specialist
Surrey PCT
The White House
Crouch Oak Lane
Addlestone
KT15 2AN
Nerys.Edmonds@
surreypct.nhs.uk
EVALUATION
10 journal of public mental health
vol 6 • issue 1
The physical health inequalities
experienced by people with severe
mental health problems are now well
recognised (Disability Rights
Commission, 2006; mentality, 2003;
Brown et al, 2000; Harris & Barraclough, 1998).
Lifestyle factors, in particular high rates of smoking,
have been identified as a major contributor to the
raised mortality and morbidity in this population
(Brown et al, 1999; Brown et al, 2000; Osborn et al,
2006). A lack of access to responsive primary care
and preventive interventions, including smoking
cessation, has also been reported as a significant
factor in the poor physical health outcomes in
people with severe mental health problems
(Disability Rights Commission, 2006; Friedli &
Dardis, 2002; Brown et al, 2000).
More recently, public health policy has begun to
respond to these inequalities with new guidance and
performance management requirements. For
example, promoting the well-being of people with
severe mental illness has been identified as a goal in
Choosing Health (Department of Health, 2004),
and commissioning guidance on meeting the
physical health needs of this group has now been
issued (Department of Health, 2006a). The Quality
and Outcomes Framework for general practice
provides financial incentives for conducting regular
physical health checks for people with severe
mental illness. A national inquiry into physical
health inequalities and mental health conducted
last year by the Disability Rights Commission
(DRC) demanded urgent action to ensure that
people with mental health problems have access to
services to promote their health and well-being
(Disability Rights Commission, 2006).
Alongside this growing recognition of the
physical healthcare needs of people with severe
mental health problems has been the
implementation of smoke-free policies and
legislation. Last year, Scotland introduced a ban on
smoking in all enclosed public places, including all
NHS and local authority premises. In England,
Wales and Northern Ireland, legislation for smoke-
free workplaces was introduced in 2006 (HMSO,
2006a; HMSO, 2006b).This legislation has brought
the smoking agenda directly to the door of mental
health services, with the implementation of smoke-
free workplaces in Wales and Northern Ireland from
April 2007, and in July 2007 in England.
Smoke-free policies are already in place in much
of the NHS, in line with the Choosing Health white
paper,which committed the NHS to be smoke-free
in England by the end of 2006 (Department of
©Pavilion Journals (Br ighton) Ltd
Keywords
smoking cessation
mental health
service users
health inequalities
training
evaluation
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