Last year, during lockdown, one million people in the UK quit smoking. New research shows that now those ex-smokers will now be feeling happier and more positive than if they were still smoking. 

It might not feel like a good time to quit smoking – but it is. We don’t often talk about the benefits of quitting to mental health, but just as it improves your physical health, stopping smoking also improves your sense of wellbeing. Withdrawal can be tough, but with help, smokers can come out the other side feeling happier, healthier and wealthier too.

Martin Lever, a Health Improvement Manager on SHSC’s QUIT Programme and a former 20-a-day smoker himself stopped smoking in 2006 after smoking for more than two decades:

“Stopping smoking is really hard but with specialist one-to-one support and free medications from my local stop smoking service I quit for good in 2006 and have never looked back. I used to spend the whole day struggling with anxiety from withdrawal symptoms and was spending more than £2000 a year on cigarettes.”

“Stopping smoking was the best thing I did in terms of improving my physical and mental health and having more money to spend on doing things I love. The best thing, though, is that I am free from tobacco withdrawal symptoms and horrible cravings and I have lots more energy as a result.”

At SHSC we recently improved the support we offer to help our inpatients stop smoking during their stays on our wards.

All service users at SHSC who smoke are now offered the most effective evidence based treatments to support them to manage their tobacco dependence without being exposed to the thousands of harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke.

These treatments include:

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), such as patches, gum, lozenges or sprays
• Vaping products, like e-cigarettes
• Behaviour change support
• Trained staff will work with service users to assess their tobacco dependence and collaboratively agree a plan that supports them throughout their stay with us.

For #NoSmokingDay 2021, we’re encouraging everyone in Sheffield to think about quitting smoking for good. There is lots of support available locally so why not say #TodayIsTheDay and contact our brilliant local community smoking cessation services:

• From Landlines: 0800 612 0011
• From Mobiles: 0330 660 1166
• Or take a look at the local services available.

Evidence tells us that smokers are three times more likely to quit for good with one-to-one support and free medications from a local stop smoking service. You’ll be happier, healthier and wealthier as a result.

#TodayIsTheDay