Smoking and Mental Health Working Group

New: Specialist cessation support for mental health service users training available from PATH

New: Smoke-free mental health services implementation guidance issued by NHS Health Scotland, February 2011

New: ASH Scotland information briefing on tobacco and people with mental health problems (updated April 2011, pdf 102kb)

The Smoking and Mental Health Working Group (SMHWG) is co-ordinated by the STCA.  Membership of the SMHWG is open to anyone with an interest in the effects of tobacco on people who have a mental illness and is free to join. The group provides an opportunity for open debate and information exchange. To encourage a wide variety of views being expressed, a new Chair is selected for each meeting from the existing membership.

SMHWG meetings are held approximately every three months, are listed in STCA Events and posted on the STCA Bulletin.  If you would like to attend a meeting or would like to find out more about the Smoking and Mental Health Working Group, please contact David Robertson on 0131 220 9467 or at drobertson@ashscotland.org.uk.

Most recent meeting

17th May 2011 - A seminar exploring the NHS Health Scotland Guidelines on achieving smoke-free mental healthcare settings

• Report on the 17th May Meeting
• Smoke-free mental health implementation guidance - Celia Gardiner, Health Improvement Programme Manager (Tobacco)
• Smoke Free Environment The South Experience - Matthew Clark, Ward Manager
• A Step Forward - Yvonne Cameron, Staff Nurse
• Experiences of going smoke-free in Northumberland, A Stop Smoking Service perspective - Kent Flanighan, Stop Smoking Specialist
• Ailsa's Story - Susan Downie, Health Promotion Officer

Next meeting

Date to be confirmed

Previous meetings (click on the dates for relevant agendas/notes)

• 16th November 2010
• 27th July 2010
• 27th April 2010
• 26th January 2010
• 27th October 2009

Stop-smoking support in mental healthcare settings: case studies

Funded by Cancer Research UK on behalf of the STCA Smoking and Mental Health Working Group

The SMHWG and ASH Scotland, with support from CRUK, have produced a set of case studies illustrating smoking cessation successes in mental healthcare services. These case studies are intended to provide a discussion focus for those involved in training and information provision. There is also an expert commentary to accompany the case notes.

Both of these documents may be used freely with suitable acknowledgement.

ASH Scotland has collected a series of 'stop smoking' case studies, telling the stories of a range of individuals from a range of circumstances, and how they were able to kick the habit.

Ailsa's Story

This is an inspirational narrative from Ailsa who stopped smoking when she was 60.  Ailsa lived with mental health problems at times throughout her life, yet managed to quit smoking after 35 years.

Ailsa has agreed to share her story and this can also be used freely with suitable acknowledgement.