For smokers 2020 was a great year to quit. One estimate found a
million people had quit during the first lock down and hundreds
of thousands have maintained that success with 2020 having the
highest rates of successful quitting on record. Now a powerful
new film commissioned by Southend Borough Council – and
generously made available to every local authority in the country
– tells the stories of some of those who made the quitting
journey in this turbulent year and calls on others to “put it
down, put it out”. [1]
The film is the work of spoken word artist Megan Cannon. When
Southend Borough Council approached her about the project she was
not immediately enthusiastic: “smoking cessation just didn’t
sound very interesting”. But she found the stories of those who
had used the council’s stop smoking service inspiring:
“We asked people who’d quit using the stop smoking services loads
of questions and their responses were so powerful and full of
emotion. I couldn’t wait to put the stories together and create
this piece, which I hope can inspire others to give up smoking
too.”
Aline Clayson was one of the successful quitters filmed as part
of the project.
“I liked smoking and I’d never tried to quit before, but my
sister dying from lung disease was the wake-up call I needed. I
walked past a stand on the street offering the help of the local
stop smoking service, and I thought now’s the time. I’d recommend
anyone to do the same, the help they gave me made all the
difference.”
Now winter’s here she’s so glad she’s no longer smoking,
”I’m saving so much money, smoking used to cost me at least
£12 a day. But that’s not all. At this time of year I usually
have the worst cough ever, which lasts for weeks. It would put an
awful pressure on my chest, like I’ve been doing press ups all
day. This year nothing, I can breath freely, it’s such a relief
and I know it’s because I’ve quit smoking.”
Aline loved being part of the film,
“I’m so happy to be able to encourage others to quit too. I
smoked from the age of 13, that’s over 40 years. No-one says it’s
going to be easy but my message is, if I can do it you can
too.”
With support from Southend Council, and the film-makers, a
specially adapted version is now being made available for other
councils to use to encourage people to quit over the New Year and
beyond. Stop smoking services around the country have moved
online or over the phone to continue to support people during
coronavirus. Data from NHS Digital shows that the services have
managed to maintain a high level of support during this time [2].
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health,
who are supporting the roll out of the film, said:
“This has been a tough year, but local councils have shown
they are more than up to the challenge, showing tremendous
commitment to their local communities during the pandemic. Stop
Smoking Services have continued to operate, despite councils
having to pretty much rebuild them from scratch to provide
socially distanced support delivered remotely. If you are
planning to quit for 2021 search smokefree and find your local
service, it can make all the difference.”
Notes to the editor:
[1] The full film can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HICGAaj9D1M&feature=youtu.be
[2] NHS Digital. Statistics on NHS Stop
Smoking Services in England April 2020 to June
2020.
Nov 2020
