Mental health workers' attitudes and beliefs about tobacco cessation

Even though the mentally ill consumes over 40% of all tobacco used in the United States (and people with psychotic disorders have the highest rates – around 70%), this population has been largely excluded from the greater societal movement toward minimizing tobacco use.

For a variety of reasons, many mental/behavioral health treatment programs have not taken on this health issue. Rates of smoking are higher among institutionalized patients than those with similar illnesses living at home. Although mental health professionals could play an important role in implementing smoking cessation strategies, little is known of their attitudes and beliefs about giving smoking advice. Many myths and misconceptions circulate regarding mentally ill patients and smoking that support counterarguments for implementing cessation programs in mental health facilities.

Through a partnership with ASPIN – a behavioral health provider network comprised of accredited behavioral health providers covering most counties in Indiana – a tool was designed to assess mental healthcare providers' attitudes and beliefs about smoking cessation in mental health facilities. Provider enthusiasm about giving clients anti smoking advice, attitudes toward treatment measures for tobacco using clients, and perceived effectiveness, are all components of the survey.

Training mental health workers in smoking cessation, and offering mental health workers (who use tobacco) effective smoking cessation services, is likely to help reduce the burden of tobacco among clients and staff in mental health facilities.