Smokers encouraged to give quitting a try this Stoptober

Help is at hand for anyone trying to quit smoking in Cheshire West and Chester during Stoptober and beyond.

The 12^th annual mass quitting campaign takes place across the UK throughout the month of October, with thousands of smokers taking part nationwide.

This year's Stoptober is as important as ever, with quitting remaining one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. When you stop smoking good things start to happen - quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily and give you more money to spend.

Cheshire West and Chester Council and Council company Brio Leisure, which provides stop smoking services, are joining the call for smokers to try and stop this year.

Cllr Lisa Denson, the Council’s Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future, said:

“Stopping smoking is one of the best things a smoker can do for their health – and their finances.

“You will feel the benefits of quitting smoking almost immediately and within the first two weeks after quitting you will notice significant improvements in your health, including having more energy and improved breathing.

“National evidence from the Stoptober campaign shows that if you can make 28 days smoke free you are five times as likely to quit for good, so it’s well worth a try during this national movement.

“Locally, Brio’s services to help you quit, are friendly and non-judgmental, and available all year round if this Stoptober isn’t the right time for you – but joining more than 2.5 million others who will try to quit during Stoptober can give you the motivation, confidence and strength to succeed.”

Nearly 6 million adults in England smoke and it remains the single leading cause of preventable death, with 64,000 deaths a year.

Ruth Armstrong, from Brio’s stop smoking service, is running Facebook Live sessions throughout October. To join the conversation, search for: ‘Cheshire Change Hub’ on Facebook and follow their page. Smokers and their families and friends are invited to send in their questions about quitting via Facebook:

@CheshireChangeHub

Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and text messages, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool.  Search: ‘Stoptober’ online for more information.

For more information about the Cheshire West and Chester stop smoking service and how to access support visit: 

cheshirechangehub.org 

...or call:

0300 777 0033