There’s never been a better time to quit – and if you’re worried about how you’ll cope, quitting can actually improve your mental wellbeing, as well as your physical health.  

Many smokers believe that smoking helps to relieve stress, anxiety and low mood, when in fact the opposite is true. Today, for the first time, the national No Smoking Day campaign will focus on the significant benefits of quitting for mental health and wellbeing. This is the start of a new conversation that feels particularly relevant as we set our sights towards the national recovery from COVID-19. Find out more here: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2021/03/10/time-to-talk-about-smoking-and-mental-health-in-a-pandemic-no-smoking-day-2021/

For help and support in Leeds visit https://oneyouleeds.co.uk/be-smoke-free/ or call 0800 169 4219

In the past year, One You Leeds – the city’s stop smoking service – has seen a significant increase in the number of people accessing support. Meanwhile nationally, over half a million people have made a quit attempt since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Smokers risk a range of serious long-term health problems.

Most importantly at this time, smoking impairs lung function, making it more difficult for the body to fight off diseases such as COVID 19. Furthermore, the repetitive hand-to-mouth motion associated with smoking provides an easy route of entry, putting smokers at greater risk of contracting the virus.

Wider health benefits of stopping smoking include improved circulation, breathing and mental health – as well as a significantly reduced risk of cancer.