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Persons with mental illness smoke half
of all cigarettes produced-and are only half as likely
to quit as smokers without mental illness. Approximately
50% of those with serious mental illness are smokers, compared
with 23% for society at large. Half
of MH deaths are due to smoking related illnesses. A new study shows that people with serious mental illness die 25 years before the general population. Concurrently,
this population experiences higher rates of disease and premature
death and a reduced quality of life. Most will die
from smoking caused diseases, with half of all deaths due
to smoking experienced by individuals with mental illness.
The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center recognizes
the importance of assisting smokers within underserved mental
health populations is proud to announce
a first in the field of cessation and mental health, the
formation of a new SCLC partnership of mental health advocates, The Mental
Health Partnership for Wellness and Smoking Cessation (see below for current activities or to download the Partnership
Communiqué).
The Center’s work within the mental health arena started
back in 2004 when Director, Dr. Steven Schroeder was invited
to be a keynote speaker for the National Association of State
Mental Health Program Directors' Meeting in San Francisco. This
event opened the door to new mental health advocate connections,
including Dr. Bob Glover, executive director of NASMHPD,
who now serves as a valued board member of SCLC’s National
Advisory Committee.
In 2005, SCLC granted funding to the
NASMHPD Medical Directors Council to convene a technical
expert panel consisting of state commissioners, hospital
administrators and medical directors of state psychiatric
facilities to develop strategies to implement 100% smoke-free
facilities. The result, a
technical and position paper titled (Drs. Joe Parks, Peggy
Jewell, and Alan Radke, 2006) which was unanimously approved
by the state commissioners, has been
one of the catalysts that brought cessation to the forefront
of mental health state facilities. At that time,
42% of facilities were smoke-free; since then it is reported
at least one facility is going smoke-free each month, with
currently an estimated half of facilities smoke-free.
In July 1, 2006, SCLC was recognized for
its endeavors and received funding from the American Legacy
Foundation to assist smokers within mental health populations.
Since then we have been working to find inroads into key
mental health organizations. And with the help of
Gail P. Hutchings, President and CEO of the Behavioral Health
Policy Collaborative, we have connected with federal, consumer,
and advocate organizations to form The National
Partnership for Wellness and Smoking Cessation.
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