Health / Wellbeing
Stoptober: Can you quit for good?
“It is more than just signing up on No Smoking Day, it is about making a pledge to be smoke free during the whole of October,” says Wendy Parker, senior health improvement specialist at Bristol Public Health.
The 28-day ‘Stoptober’ challenge prides itself on the evidence that participants who have a smoke-free October are five times more likely to quit for good than those who have at least one cheeky puff.
Bristol’s 63,000 smokers are encouraged to sign up to Stoptober with family or friends. “Peer support is vital in improving people’s chances of achieving lifestyle changes and this is true for stopping smoking,” explains Parker.
is needed now More than ever
As thousands join the smoke free movement, Stoptober offers smokers a quitting community that helps and supports participants throughout the challenge.
Weekly group meetings, organised by local organisation Smokefree Bristol, can be found from mid-September in Bedminster, Hartcliffe, Knowle West, Southmead, Horfield, St Paul’s and Henbury. There are also one-on-one appointments and specialist services available for pregnant smokers.
Whilst the damaging health effects of smoking are enough to encourage most smokers to kick the habit, new legislation banning smoking in cars when children are present may provide extra motivation for this year’s thousands of quitters.
“In Bristol we’re welcoming the legislation to protect children from secondhand smoke and supporting smokers to change their behaviour accordingly,” says Daniella Radice, assistant mayor for public health.
The Green Party councillor’s support of the new laws is shared by the majority of residents in the South West, with a recent YouGov poll revealing 85 per cent support in favour of the legislation.
The financial costs of smoking have also encouraged past Stoptober participants in Bristol.
Ann Nelson quit after attending group sessions at Southmead and found her bank balance also began to look healthier: “The £130 a month I save from not smoking has enabled me to save up for a once in a lifetime family trip to America. You can really notice the difference if you put the money aside.”
But whatever motives bring people to their services, Smokefree Bristol offers a non-judgemental advice for all smokers and are now actively supporting clients in using an e-cigarette to quit smoking through community advisors.
Although the campaign’s success rate in Bristol is hard to assess, the popularity and awareness of Stoptober has increased year on year, with a greater uptake in the campaign’s second year compared to its launch.
To be part of this year’s third wave of committed quitters, find a Smokefree Bristol service near you. Get involved by visiting: www.stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk or www.smokefreebristol.com.