Mental Health And Smoking: Link Between Psychiatric Condition And Cigarettes Reveals Shorter Life Span

Mental health disorders reportedly have been found to result in shorter life span when smoking becomes a factor. According to recent findings, while psychiatric condition on its own affects the life span of an individual with a mental health disorder, smoking compounds this situation.

Addiction Vulnerability Among Mental Health Patients

The Press Association via Care Appointments reports that Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) pointed out the direct link among life span, mental health disorder and smoking. ASH stated that one-third of the smoking statistics in the UK is contributed by those who have mental health disorder. ASH further states that those who have mental health conditions tend smoke more, or tend to be more addicted to tobacco use.

According to Huffington Post, recent findings by science experts singled out smoking as the main cause of shortened life expectancy among individuals with mental health condition.

Brian Dow, the director of external affairs at the Rethink Mental Illness charity group, explained why people with mental illness, especially the smokers of this demographic, need long-term support and specialized assistance.

Smoke-Free Mental Health Service

"We know that people with a mental health condition are just as likely to want to stop smoking as other smokers but this can be much harder if, for example, you are using smoking as a coping mechanism," Dow said. For this reason, both mental and physical health services, and even social care, must work together to empower people to overcome reliance on, and addiction to, smoking.

Paul Farmer, from the mental health charity Mind, emphasized the need for a synchronized support among all relevant health services. This is especially true if a target of 2018 for mental health patients to become smoke-free is to be achieved.

Freedom From Smoking Addiction Is Possible

Paul Burstow, who chaired the ASH report, highlighted the importance of persevering to help people with mental health disorders to become smoke-free. Burstow put forth a challenge to the mindset that smokers who have mental health disorders are beyond help. "With a determined and collective effort we can save millions of people from early death and avoid years of life being blighted by heart and lung diseases, stroke and cancer," Burstow stated.