Systemic factors that perpetuate smoking among community and institutionalised public mental health service populations
Abstract
Despite a vast body of research on smoking, quit rates for people with a concurrent mental illness
remain extremely low. Research has established that these groups smoke more heavily, for more years
and in greater proportions than the general population - up to 90% compared with 25% respectively.
This thesis reports on the findings of a study investigating the barriers to quitting among community-based
and institutionalised psychiatric populations. Participants were drawn from the four diagnostic
categories of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, major depression and borderline personality
disorder. Interviews were performed with smokers from each diagnostic group as well as with clients
who had successfully quit smoking. Multi-disciplinary staff from community and inpatient mental
health services were also interviewed. Participant observation of inpatient settings and community
hostels completed the triangulation of method.