Free support offered to LGBTQ+ community to quit smoking
A hospital trust is teaming up with its local authority to offer free support for LGBTQ+ people to quit smoking after figures show the community has a disproportionately high number of smokers.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Tobacco Dependence Treatment Service, is working with community arts partnership Art4Space and LGBTQ+ forum Lambeth Links to offer an 8-week programme to help LGBTQ+ people quit smoking.
The sessions will start at Art4Space in Jeffreys Road, Stockwell, on September 7.
The initiative comes following the latest Office For National Statistics data which shows the proportion of smokers is higher among people who identify as gay or lesbian than among heterosexual people.
Stop smoking advisors from Guy’s and St Thomas’ will help people attending these group sessions to identify smoking triggers, such as stress and social situations, and to learn how to manage these.
The team will also offer free nicotine replacement products such as patches and chewing gum that may help with cravings.
The project is funded by Lambeth council as a borough with one of the highest proportions of LGBTQ+ residents in London.
Anyone who attends the session will also have the chance to take part in creative activities and practice mindfulness that will be delivered by Art4Space.
Oscar Moreno, Tobacco Dependence Treatment Manager at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “Our team are here to support people to reach their goal of quitting smoking for good, by providing treatments that can help beat cravings and giving motivational tips so they keep on track.
“These groups can create a real sense of belonging and offer a fantastic opportunity to support each other, from setting a shared quit date to supporting each other on their quitting smoking journey through their weekly sessions.”
To sign up or for more information on any aspect of our tobacco dependence treatment services, contact the team on gst-tr.stopsmokinglambeth@nhs.net or call 0800 856 3409.
Pictured top: Staff from the Tobacco Dependence Treatment Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’, from left, Oscar Moreno, Christina Rowe, Mark Bebbington (Picture: Guy’s and St Thomas’)
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