There is a far higher prevalence of smoking among people with mental health problems compared to the rest of the population. In Wales 36% of adults with a mental health condition smoke compared to 17% of the whole adult population in Wales. People with mental health problems tend to smoke more heavily. Across the UK people who are mentally ill smoke more than a third of all the tobacco smoked in the UK. Partly as a result of this, they tend to die on average 10 to 20-years-earlier than those who do not have mental health problems.

Smoking interferes with chemicals in the brain creating a craving for nicotine. The craving makes smokers feel anxious and irritable – a feeling that is temporarily relieved when they smoke another cigarette. This tricks people into thinking that smoking improves their mood, when in fact it’s the cigarette that caused the anxiety in the first place

Studies have shown that quitting smoking can actually improve people’s mental health. According to the NHS, those who give up smoking experience lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Their quality of life and moods improve and they can reduce their dosages of some medicines used to treat mental ill health. Some evidence even suggests that stopping smoking can be as beneficial as taking antidepressants for those suffering from anxiety and depression.

Smoking interferes with the effectiveness of some medication to treat mental health problems. This means smokers sometimes have to increase the amount of medication they take in order for it to continue being effective.

There is a far higher prevalence of smoking among people with mental health problems compared to the rest of the population. In Wales 36% of adults with a mental health condition smoke compared to 17% of the whole adult population in Wales. People with mental health problems tend to smoke more heavily and partly as a result of this, they tend to die on average 10 to 20-years-earlier than those who do not have mental health problems.