Box 1.

Myths about smoking and severe mental illness

Smoking helps people with mental disorders. No! Stopping smoking is as effective as antidepressants for treating mild-to-moderate depression. People with mental illness can’t or won’t stop smoking. No! Not only do they often want to stop smoking, but also with appropriate tailored support the SCIMITAR study (the largest trial of its kind) shows they can.19 Resources that can be offered to patients include the y-QUIT leaflet.20 Pharmacological smoking cessation interventions used in the general population do not help with these patients. No! prescribed treatments like nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, and bupropion can be as effective and safe for people with SMI.21