Open Forum
Smoking cessation among people with mental illness: A South African perspective
Submitted: 12 January 2022 | Published: 30 August 2022
About the author(s)
Tejil Morar, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaLesley Robertson, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract
Tobacco use is recognised as a serious, worldwide public health concern. Smoking cessation is of great interest across a wide range of medical specialities, including family medicine. However, smoking cessation among people with mental illness (PWMI) has attracted scant attention in South African literature. This is despite PWMI suffering disproportionately from the damages of tobacco. The harms of smoking are not limited to physical health but extend to mental health. This article discusses the need for multifaceted smoking cessation treatments for PWMI in the public health sector, taking into consideration the prevalence and unique drivers of smoking in this population. A brief overview of patterns of tobacco use, associated harms and smoking cessation interventions in South Africa is given; all within the context of mental illness.
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