ANTI-SMOKING drive ‘Stoptober’ is back and mental health services in Surrey and NE Hants are launching a one-year countdown to becoming completely smoke-free.

From October 2, 2017, no one will be permitted to smoke tobacco on any Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust premises, including all grounds and gardens.

The move follows NHS England guidance, which recommends all mental health trusts should be smoke-free by 2018.

Nurse director Jo Young said: “We are pleased to be launching our countdown to becoming smoke-free, and feel Stoptober is the perfect event to do so. As an NHS body we have a duty to be a health-promoting organisation, improving people’s physical health as well as their mental wellbeing.

“It is shocking people with mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the rest of our population, and smoking is the largest single cause. We must do more to support people to quit.

Stop smoking service Quit 51 will help train staff to provide effective advice to people who use services.

Some staff will undertake assessments and provide Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) within 30 minutes of people’s arriving at trust hospitals using nicotine products such as patches, gum, lozenges and sprays.

Studies show stopping smoking reduces depression, anxiety and stress as well as improved mood and quality of life. with an effect that is equal or larger than anti-depressant treatment.