United Kingdom: A report raises concerns about smoking among people with mental health conditions.

More than 140 public health and mental health stakeholders are calling on the UK government to adopt a national strategy to support people with mental health conditions in quitting smoking. A new report from Action on Smoking and Health highlights the persistence of significant inequalities in access to tobacco use.

1.5 million people affected in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, approximately 1.5 million smokers also suffer from anxiety or depression. In a report published by the NGOs Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the Mental Health and Smoking Partnership, the authors warn that anti-smoking policies may not adequately address the specific needs of this vulnerable population. Indeed, while smoking prevalence has declined significantly in the general population, smoking prevalence among people with mental health conditions is significantly higher, sometimes up to four times greater.[1].

This situation contributes to maintaining and exacerbating already considerable inequalities in health. As a result, people suffering from these disorders have a reduced life expectancy, which can be up to 25 years shorter than that of the general population.

A lack of national strategy

While the report acknowledges the existence of local initiatives to support these smoking patients, the authors nevertheless lament the lack of a national strategy, objectives, and monitoring mechanisms. In particular, the authors point out that the most recent national data from the Ministry of Health on smoking among people suffering from depression or anxiety dates back to 2017.

An open letter has been addressed to the Minister of Public Health, British MP Sharon Hodgson, co-signed by more than 140 leaders from the fields of mental health, public health, and tobacco control. They are calling on the government to strengthen its action in this area. In particular, they are demanding the publication of a national roadmap that explicitly includes people with mental health conditions.

Targeted measures to reduce inequalities

The authors of the report make several recommendations: develop a national toolkit to support smoking cessation among people with mental health conditions, expand access to smoking cessation services, fund specific financial incentive schemes for this population group to quit, continue collecting data on smoking behavior among populations with mental health conditions, and maintain funding for local smoking cessation services.

For the signatories of this open letter, mental health care must fully integrate the issue of smoking cessation. The report's authors further emphasize that people suffering from mental health disorders, like the rest of the population, overwhelmingly express a desire to quit smoking, but face greater obstacles in accessing support tailored to their specific situation.

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[1] ASH, Over 140 health leaders call for national action as report warns 1.5 million people with depression and anxiety who smoke risk being left behind, 22/05/2026, (accessed 26/05/2026)