Smokers on the Yorkshire Coast urged to take part in Stoptober
The campaign is hosted by the NHS and Public Health England every October
Smokers on the Yorkshire Coast are being urged to take part in Stoptober this month.
The Stoptober campaign is hosted by NHS and Public Health England every October, and aims to show people the many benefits of quitting and where they can seek support in their local area.
Bridlington and the East Riding
In the East Riding, there is the Your Health Service at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust.
Across the month, the team will be out and about at several community venues, including their Hub sites in Bridlington, Withernsea and Goole.
To learn more about these events, including when and where they are taking place, and how to sign up, please visit the team’s Eventbrite page. Simply look through the events and click on the ones that interest you to find out more and book your slot.
Ryan Nicholls, Team Leader at Your Health, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We have all been impacted by the ever-growing cost of living as of late. It can be tempting to keep smoking during stressful times, and this is completely understandable, but we are here to support you to do the right thing for your health and wealth.
By reaching out to our supportive team, you will be equipped with everything you need to kick the habit for good, including free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Our team of professionals are also on hand to support people with other topics such as finances, relationships and low mood. Give us a call today and see what you think.”
The Your Health service also run a Smokefree Generation campaign in the East Riding of Yorkshire, which aims to support the remaining 3,000 smokers in the area to quit for good. Learn more about this on the Health Trainers website.
Contact the Your Health team for support to kick smoking today. Refer online or text QUIT to 60163.
North Yorkshire
In North Yorkshire, there is the Living Well Smokefree team at North Yorkshire County Council.
They say smoking is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death, killing around 74,600 people in England in 2019.
It added that over a two-year period - 2020/21 and 2021/22 - a total of 2064 people set a quit date with them to try and quit smoking. Of those 2064 people, 1603 have managed to quit smoking after four weeks (which is how they are measured). That’s 77% quit rate.
29-year-old Alyss Jones from North Yorkshire was smoking 20 cigarettes a day. She quit smoking because she wanted to start a family and knew it would not be possible until she stopped.
She quit using Champix, and a nicotine free e-cigarette.
Alyss said: "I was a 20 a day smoker for 14 years. I started smoking when I was only 13, I never expected to still be smoking at 27! I tried to quit a few times using a different programme but never received the level of kindness and support that I did whilst using the Living Well Smokefree programme.
"My smoking advisor was called Emily and, if you were to ask her, she would tell you that I am 100% the reason why I have stopped smoking, but the truth is I couldn't have done it without her support and the support of this program.
"I was on the program during lockdown and it was excellent; I was able speak to my smoking advisor by telephone appointments, which I personally preferred to attending meetings anyway.
"The first time you speak to your smoking advisor, you are given really helpful information about the method you have chosen to quit with (mine was Champix) as well as tips and tricks to help with cravings and withdrawal.
"Once you have started the program you get the chance to speak to your smoking advisor every week or every other week, which ever you prefer. I cannot tell you how much this helped me to quit, being able to voice my concerns and ask questions to someone who is fully trained to help you is amazing.
"Every single time I spoke to Emily when I was cutting down on my cigarettes she would re-motivate me every week and make me feel excited to try and do better the next week. For my last packet of Champix I decorated my pack to help motivate myself and get ready to quit.
"I have now been smoke free for 2 years! Thank you to Living Well Smokefree for helping me quit smoking - it means the world to me that there are services like yours available that work so well!
"The main struggle I found (apart from the side effects of nicotine withdrawal) was the habit of actually going for a cigarette, which I tackled by buying an e-cigarette with 0% nicotine. I found that this massively helped with the psychological side effects of quitting smoking."
People who want to try and quit can visit North Yorkshire County Council's website.