The Royal College of Physicians has stated that England’s NHS is not doing enough to help people quit smoking who have displayed other mental health conditions. People that have mental health disorders are twice as likely to be addicted to substances and to smoke.
The Department of Health stated that it will remain devoted to tackling the issue over the next few years. The Report was organized by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and outlines that even though the amount of people smoking in the general population has decreased, there has not been that much change in the amount of people that smoke that also have mental health conditions.
In fact, the report outlines the fact that about a third of all of the cigarettes that are smoked in the nation is smoked by a person that suffers from a mental health disorder. Interestingly, the study points out that those who smoke with mental disorders are just as likely to want to quit as anyone in the general population, but they do not have the right support system in place to help them stop.
Given the fact that smoking is such a large part of the mental health culture the report outlines the need for more to be done to help create smoke free environments. According to the report, smoking cessation techniques such as nicotine replacement will also work effectively in those with mental disorders, but people that suffer from mental conditions may need more support or higher doses.
The NHS is estimated to spend about £720m every year just treating smoking illness that results in those with mental health problems. It is thought that smoking treatment and prevention programmes fail within this group because smoking is considered to be a normal behaviour for those in the group.
