London Tobacco Alliance Stoptober Campaign
Stoptober is an annual campaign to help people find the support they need to stop smoking. This year, to supplement the national campaign being run by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS, Stop Smoking London has developed a London campaign centred on the fact that Everyone’s journey is different and shares stories from different people who have successfully given up.
The people featured include Erene, who lives in London, and who had been smoking for 60 years and lost several members of her family to smoking before she finally quit with help from her local stop smoking service. Now she plans to celebrate her 80th birthday without a cigarette. You can watch her video and read her full story here.
Olivette realised her health was being seriously impacted by her smoking and used this as her motivation to give up. Her advice to other smokers wanting to give up is that you can always try.
As his wedding day neared, Chris realised he wanted to give up. He appreciated quick wins as well as longer term wins like more money in your pocket, feeling better with no sore throats or getting out of breath. His message to anyone looking to stop smoking is “don’t stop trying to give up. You can and you will do it in the end. Believe yourself.”
Stop Smoking London is London’s resource for smokers who want help to quit. The website is full of hints and tips to deal with cravings, stories from people who have successfully quit. It has information and a search function to help you find your local stop smoking service as well as a text messaging service and helpline.
You’re three times more likely to quit for good if you combine professional support with a quit smoking aid like Nicotine Replacement Therapy so it’s important to get the right support for you.
Tracy Parr, Programme Director for Stop Smoking London says: “Free help is available for anyone in London who wants to quit and Stoptober is the ideal time as lots of people will be making a quit attempt. We know that everyone’s journey is different and that quitting smoking isn’t always easy so we’re here to help you find the support you need to quit for good.”
Stakeholders across London are asked to support SSL’s Stoptober campaign and help spread the word this October. They have produced a toolkit with a range of assets including social media posts, a video and web copy to help you share the guide with your residents.