An ex-smoker from Westbury is encouraging others to quit smoking after seeing improvements in her mental health.
Pharmacy dispensing assistant Sarah Jane quit smoking with the help of Wiltshire Council’s Smokefree Wiltshire service. She is now encouraging others to do the same after noticing an improvement in her mental health and stress levels.
“At my worst I was smoking between 15 and 20 a day,” said 29-year-old Sarah Jane. “I can’t begin to explain how much stopping smoking has changed my life. I no longer feel sluggish – I can breathe easier and my cough has completely gone. I just feel healthier in general. Now when I feel stressed, I go outside and take a breather. It’s really changed how I deal with stress and how I see things.
“Anyone thinking of quitting I’d say please don’t give up on yourself. It’s not easy and if you slip up, that’s okay. Try and use the support from your local stop smoking services – I couldn’t have done it without my health coach and Smokefree Wiltshire.”
Wiltshire residents can seek free support to quit smoking either by downloading the Smoke Free app, or via their local expert stop smoking service or GP.
Anyone who lives or works in Wiltshire can get a free 12-week programme of stop smoking support, with friendly and specialist health coaches and access to free stop smoking aids.
Residents can also get six months’ free access to the Smoke Free app which offers 24/7 stop smoking support to fit around your life.
For links to download the Smoke Free app or to contact Wiltshire Council’s stop smoking service, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/smokefree
