This resource was selected by SMI Adviser content partners and approved by the SMI Adviser clinical expert team for inclusion in the knowledge base.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is one of the leading causes of premature, preventable death among adults in the United States, and the behavioral health population smokes at a rate that is 2-3 times that of the general population. As a result, individuals with a behavioral health condition are far more likely to die of smoking-related diseases than from causes related to their mental illness or substance use disorder. Addressing the impact of smoking is foundational for creating and maintaining health equity.
SAMHSA’s National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery has released a new toolkit: “Tobacco-free Toolkit for Behavioral Health Agencies”. This toolkit serves as a resource and guide for behavioral health agencies adopting a tobacco-free wellness policy for their facilities and campuses. It provides information on tobacco use among the behavioral health population, as well as a step-by-step guide to becoming a tobacco-free facility and treating tobacco use in clients and staff. It also suggests ways of incorporating a larger program of wellness that not only supports smoking cessation, but improves overall the mental, emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of one’s life.
For additional information, view this webinar from SMI Adviser: Smoking Cessation for Persons with Serious Mental Illness