People with mental disorders are more likely to smoke and the more severe the disorder, the greater the tobacco consumption. In Catalonia, 74.4% of hospitalized patients with mental disorders smoke, tripling tobacco consumption in the general population (27.1%).

In the last decade, some cost-effective measures have been implemented to control smoking with the aim of reducing tobacco-related diseases and associated mortality in this vulnerable group. These measures include:

– Smoke-free space policies;
– Treatment to quit smoking, including psychological support and pharmacological therapy and
– Community measures of sustained support.

In our country, Law 42/2010 prohibits smoking in the interior and exterior spaces of acute hospitals, including psychiatric units. Patients with mental illness admitted have the opportunity to receive professional help and remain abstinent during their hospital stay due to the need to comply with regulations. However, once discharged, the type of community support for quitting smoking aimed at these patients is insufficient.

The QUIT_Mental project proposes to provide support to quit smoking to patients with mental disorders who have been admitted to acute hospitals after discharge from hospital through expert telephone support provided by nurses from 061 CatSalut Respon.