Stop smoking for better health and wellbeing

Why stop smoking?

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind.

It helps you breathe more easily, reduces your risk of cancer and heart disease, and gives you more energy. It can also help your mental wellbeing. Many people find they feel less anxious, sleep better and have more energy after quitting.

People quit for different reasons:

to feel more in control
to protect their children or loved ones
to save money
to feel calmer and more focused
to look after their long-term health

Whatever your reason, it’s never too late to stop – and you don’t have to do it alone.

Smoking and mental health

Many people believe smoking helps with stress – but it’s actually the opposite.

When nicotine levels drop, you start to crave a cigarette. This craving can make you feel tense or irritable. Having a cigarette gives short-term relief, but it’s only easing the craving that smoking caused in the first place.

When you stop, you may find that:

you feel calmer and less anxious
you sleep better
you can focus more easily
you feel proud of yourself and in more control

If you’re living with a mental health problem, you can still stop smoking with the right support.

Getting the right support

There’s no single way to stop, but you’re much more likely to succeed with support.

People who use a stop smoking service are up to four times more likely to quit than those who try alone.

Free help in Leeds

Leeds Stop Smoking Service offers free, friendly support for anyone in Leeds – including people who are pregnant or living with a long-term health condition.

Their trained advisors can:

understand your smoking habits and triggers
help you choose the best way to quit
offer free nicotine products or vouchers
support you for several weeks or months

Find out more about Leeds Stop Smoking Services

You can also:

talk to your GP about medication or a referral
ask your pharmacist for advice
use the free NHS Quit Smoking app or sign up for text and email support
get involved in campaigns: Today is the Day campaign | Yes to Quit campaign

Even cutting down is a great start – and there’s help for that too.

Try our Positive Change Plan

If you want to make changes by cutting down or stopping smoking, but don’t know where to start, you might find using our Positive Change Plan helpful.

You can use the Plan to make changes gradually: set goals, plan your next steps and review how you’re doing.