Published at 29 April, 2026 12:19.
This year’s theme is all about taking action for yourself, for someone else and for all of us. This may mean different things to everyone. Think about how you can take action this month to help your mental health and well-being.
People with depression and anxiety or schizophrenia are much more likely to smoke, tend to be heavier smokers, and on average will die earlier than people who do not experience any mental health illness. People who smoke may need higher doses of some antipsychotic or antidepressant medications.
You can help boost your mental health and well-being by quitting smoking. When people stop smoking, studies show that anxiety, depression and stress levels are lower, mood improves, leading to a better quality of life, and the dosage of some medicines may be able to be reduced by your mental health practitioner.
By taking action to stop smoking yourself you will be helping your family, friends and your pets so they are not at risk from second hand smoke. The environment will become cleaner with less pollution in our rivers and waterways from discarded cigarette butts. You may be the influencer for other people to take action and quit themselves, having a positive effect on their own mental health.
If you are concerned about your mental health talk to your GP. You may have reasons such as bereavement or stress which you are not managing or coping with, or you may not know the reasons and feel these need to be explored with a counsellor or talking therapies. Talk to a friend or family member if you can and they could support you to go to your appointment if you need them to. If it is about a problem at work talk to a colleague in confidence if you can, approach your line manager if you are able and many workplaces have confidential health and wellbeing support you may not even know about. Online tools can be helpful for some people, as can contacting a helpline or a mental health charity like the Mental Health Foundation: Mental Health Foundation | Everyone deserves good mental health . Start taking care of your mental health and the easier it will be to develop better coping strategies than reaching for a cigarette. Walking helps my own mental health, getting out into the woods, surrounding myself in nature and doing some breathing exercises. You will find what works for you. You can contact someone more immediately if you need urgent help by calling 999, going to your local hospital accident and emergency department or calling the Samaritans 116123. More information can be found here: Crisis care | Mental Health Foundation
If you are supporting someone else, make sure you feel able to do this without compromising your own mental health. Know when it`s time to hand over to a health professional by helping that person seek support. If someone needs urgent help or is at immediate risk, call 999. More help can be found here How to support someone with a mental health problem | Mental Health Foundation
Take action and the first step to good mental health NHS Stop Smoking Service - Yorkshire Smokefree .
By Carrie Whitworth at Yorkshire Smoke Free
