Vulnerable Populations: Impact of Tobacco on the Mentally Ill

Audience:   Individuals with a moderate to extensive level of experience in tobacco control are the target audience, specifically those working as tobacco control directors or coordinators with mental health facilities in their communities and mental health providers and administrators.

Key Points:   The three focus areas that will be addressed are as follows: 1) tobacco use by the mentally ill, 2) tobacco free living in mental health communities, and 3) taking a look at Regional Mental Health Center three years after adopting a comprehensive tobacco free policy.  First, the audience will understand the impact that tobacco addiction has on the mentally ill.  We will increase their knowledge regarding nicotine dependency, how the tobacco companies systematically target vulnerable populations and the association of tobacco use with different psychiatric disorders.    Next, we will address how to launch a successful tobacco-free initiative in a mental health community.  Provide the steps that we used to assist Regional Mental Health Center implement a comprehensive tobacco free campus policy.  Lastly we will discuss the implementation of the tobacco free policy, looking at the struggles and challenges that were faced by Regional during the implementation process.

Educational Experience:   The audience will have access to the PowerPoint presentation that addresses the key points and we will provide a 12 steps tool kit for tobacco free mental health facilities.

Benefits:   It is essential to education and encourage action to be taken that emphasize the detrimental effects of tobacco on the mentally ill.  The audience will understand the need to eliminate the disparities among this vulnerable population.