AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
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Media release
24 May 2002
Issued by ASH Australia (Action on Smoking and Health) during Schizophrenia Awareness Week (19 ? 25 May)
Forwarded by SANE Australia, the national mental health charity
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Smokers with schizophrenia being left behind ... three times more likely to smoke and too little help to quit
While smoking rates in the general population continue to fall, health groups SANE Australia and ASH say more action is needed to help smokers with mental illnesses like schizophrenia to quit smoking.
Two hundred thousand Australians will experience schizophrenia during their lives; and they are 3 - 4 times more likely to smoke than the general community.
?The benefits of being smoke-free should be available to all Australians,? says Barbara Hocking, Executive Director of SANE Australia, the national mental health charity.
?A staggering 70 % of people with schizophrenia smoke, resulting in higher rates of smoking-related illness. They have a great deal to gain from quitting and increasing numbers are asking for help.
?We can and must do more to improve the overall health of this marginalized and vulnerable group of Australians,? she said.
People with mental illness have much higher rates of physical illness than the general population and their death rate is 2.5 times higher than the average. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with smoking as a known risk factor, account for much of the higher mortality.
Like many others, people with a mental illness smoke to reduce feelings of stress or boredom. Nicotine may affect symptoms of schizophrenia leading to the need for higher doses of anti-psychotic medications, that in turn can lead to increased side-effects.
Cutting down or quitting saves an average $3 000 a year spending money, improves appearance, hygiene and health, and can allow medication doses to be lowered.
Studies show that people with schizophrenia and/or depression may need extra support from a doctor to reduce or cease smoking. A doctor can adjust medication, prescribe antidepressants if indicated and give advice on nicotine patches, chewing gum or an inhaler.
Says Barbara Hocking: ?A few programs are being developed specially for smokers with mental illness, and many are being helped to reduce and quit successfully. We need many more and I urge governments to increase their support for programs which address this issue.?
Currently available help includes:
- SANE has developed a range of resources to help people with mental illness quit smoking. Visit their website at www.sane.org - see the Research section for Factsheets and information about Guides and a group program; or phone the Helpline on 1800 688 382.
- The Centre for Mental Health Studies (Newcastle) and The University of New South Wales (Sydney) are working to help people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder give up cigarettes and are seeking participants for an eight-week program of individual counselling and free nicotine patches. Phone Melanie Haile on (02) 4924 6615 or Rachel Taylor (02) 9385 1744.
Comment: Barbara Hocking (SANE Australia) ph. (03) 9682 5933 or 0424 942 553
Media inquiries: Stafford Sanders (ASH Australia) ph. (02) 9334 1823
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