Quit during Stoptober with help from Yorkshire Smokefree
Over one million people are expected to sign up to this year’s Stoptober. Join the initiative to kick start your smoke free journey with the help of Yorkshire Smokefree.
Launched in 2012, Stoptober is a national campaign which encourages smokers to give up cigarettes for just 28 days to increase their chances of quitting for good. Figures show if you can stop smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to stay smoke free.
Stoptober starts on Thursday 1 October and will run for 28 days. From 1 October 2015, new legislation making it illegal to smoke in a car or van if someone under 18 is present, also comes in to force so there’s never been a better time to make a quit attempt.
Yorkshire Smokefree, which is run by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, makes it even easier for smokers to kick the habit with its range of support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Smokers in Barnsley, Wakefield, Calderdale, Kirklees, Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster have the choice of telephone, face to face or online support.
Yorkshire Smokefree’s online support programme allows users to create their own personal plans, set a quit date and chat online with qualified advisors. It is available 24/7 from computers, mobiles and tablets.
Local quit shops in convenient locations also provide more traditional face to face support from qualified advisors, who have already helped thousands of people across the region to successfully stop smoking.
To stand an even better chance of quitting, Yorkshire residents are encouraged to sign up with their friends, family and colleagues to Stoptober. Evidence shows that smokers are two thirds more likely to quit when their spouse stops smoking, and a third more likely to quit when a close friend stops.
Yorkshire Smokefree is running a wide range of events across the region, including promotional stands at Meadowhall shopping centre, Barnsley bus station and Huddersfield market place.
Our friendly advisors will be on hand to give advice and support to smokers who are making a quit attempt this Stoptober. In addition, they will be providing carbon monoxide readings and lung capacity tests.
Stephen Michael, chief executive of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Yorkshire Smokefree team are running more events than ever this Stoptober.
“You’re four times more likely to quit with help from our expert NHS advisors, so visit the team at a location near you this October to get the support you need to quit, your way.”
New to the campaign this year, Stoptober will be providing quitters with a personal touch from some of the nation’s leading comedians – Bill Bailey, Rhod Gilbert, Al Murray and Shappi Khorsandi. Messages of support and encouragement will be sent straight to quitters’ phones and emails throughout October.
By signing up to Stoptober, participants can choose from a range of free support tools, including daily emails and text messages from the comedians throughout the 28 day quit attempt, as well as a mobile phone app which includes lots more tips and advice.
To find out more about Stoptober and Yorkshire Smokefree visit www.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk or call 0800 612 0011.