To protect the health and wellbeing of our patients, staff and visitors, all our mental health units will go entirely smoke-free from September 2022. This includes all residential units, wards, buildings, grounds and vehicles on our sites.
Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable illness and early death in Wales.
People with mental health conditions are much more likely to be smokers. Smoking can contribute to the severity of mental health conditions, and is one of the leading causes of reduced life expectancy for people with mental health conditions.
Stopping smoking has a positive impact on mental health. Evidence shows that stopping smoking leads to improved mood and quality of life, as well as reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.
We are following new law from the Welsh Government to help protect everyone from the harmful effects of smoking in many public places. We are committed to reducing the harm caused by smoking, and to supporting our patients, staff and members of our wider community to quit.
Going fully smoke-free will help us support the health and wellbeing of all our patients, staff and visitors by reducing their exposure to harmful cigarette smoke.
Admission to a mental health unit is an opportunity to address smoking behaviour and offer support. Studies have shown that people with mental health conditions are just as likely to want to quit, and are just as able to quit as the general population if offered the right support.
Our policy means patients will not be able to smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes of vapes anywhere on our sites.
Our staff will help patients stay smoke-free during their stay at one of our units.
We will discuss smoking habits with all patients on arrival, offer replacement therapies (including options like nicotine patches and lozenges) and talk about the other support available.
This will include help with cravings and ways to support patients to stay smoke-free.
As part of a care plan, patents will also be offered personal support from a specialist adviser and help from the rest of the team.
Patients with questions about going smoke-free at our units can speak to their named nurse or any member of our team. Patients can also speak to members of their home treatment or community mental health team.
One-to-one support to stop smoking, including free help from a specialist adviser and access to replacement medicines like nicotine patches and lozenges, is available at any time.
Contact Help Me Quit to learn more.