Mental Health Seminars

As tobacco dependence treatment services continue to expand, it is critical that healthcare systems make smoking cessation both accessible and appealing to individuals with mental illness, to help them realize the significant health benefits of quitting. However, clinical safety considerations must be carefully managed when integrating these services, as smoking and stopping smoking can introduce risks due to drug interactions with psychotropic medications. This talk will emphasize the importance of a coordinated, system-wide approach to address these challenges, ensuring that clinical safety concerns are managed without hindering access to effective cessation support.

Restrictive practices in mental health hospitals, such as smoking bans, aim to create safe and therapeutic environments but can inadvertently restrict patient autonomy and reduce engagement. Smoking has long been a coping mechanism for many individuals with mental health conditions, and its prohibition often exacerbates stress and agitation among patients. In recent years, vaping has emerged as a potential harm-reduction tool that offers a compromise between public health objectives and individual patient needs. This paper critically examines vaping as an alternative to smoking in mental health hospitals, exploring its ethical, clinical, and policy dimensions. Through an analysis of existing evidence and practices, the discussion highlights the benefits of vaping in reducing behavioural incidents, addressing stigma, and fostering patient autonomy, while also considering potential risks, such as misuse and regulatory gaps. By framing vaping as a pragmatic approach to restrictive practices, the paper underscores its potential to improve therapeutic environments and contribute to more inclusive and patient-centred care. Recommendations for policy development, staff training, and future research directions are proposed to guide the responsible implementation of vaping in mental health settings.

The importance of smoking cessation in the Severe Mental Illness population and how Stop Smoking Services can offer bespoke support to reduce smoking prevalence with a view to achieving the Smokefree 2030 ambition.

This presentation aims to explore some of the practical challenges and opportunities experienced during the implementation of the Treating Tobacco Dependency Early Implementer Site for individuals with suspected or diagnosed Severe Mental Illness within a community model of practice.