Implementing Tobacco Education and Cessation Services at a Large Community Mental Health Center: Lessons Learned

Abstract

High rates of early morbidity and mortality in populations with chronic mental illness and addiction, along with the psychosocial risks tobacco use may pose, call for a need to systematically address tobacco in behavioral health settings. While smoke-free policies and other tobacco-related initiatives have faced a variety of barriers, implementing tobacco-free environments remains a vital step in tackling the health discrepancies between persons with chronic mental illness and the general population. This article examines the course of one community mental health center going tobacco-free, along with the challenges facing the initiative and lessons learned in the process. Consistent assessment and treatment of tobacco use, along with an emphasis on overall wellness, were major achievements of the tobacco-free initiative. Despite barriers to policy enforcement and resource integration, the initiative continues to enhance access to person-centered services and promulgate information about tobacco cessation. More direction is needed to address the lapses in tobacco cessation treatment that persist in the behavioral health system.

Keywords:

• tobacco
• policy
• smoke-free
• community mental health center
• mental illness
• addiction

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank all the staff and consumers at Community Healthlink who helped with the tobacco-free initiative, especially those who recounted their experiences with the implementation process. In particular, we would like to thank Nicole Szretter, Jonathan Dicicco, Tammy Benoit, and Donald Smith for all of their contributions. Additionally, we thank Dr. Monika E. Koldziej for her coordination and insight.