Smoking cessation

If you want to give up smoking there are many smoking cessation methods to choose from. 

Some people can stop smoking overnight by going 'cold turkey', while others may require nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), counselling, hypnotherapy or medication. Whatever method you choose, having the support of family, friends, colleagues and your employer is a great way to motivate you to succeed.

Stopping smoking has many benefits for your health and wellbeing:

  • Your lung capacity improves by up to 10% within nine months, allowing you to breathe more easily
  • You have more energy to exercise due to improved circulation
  • Stress levels are lowered and anxiety levels drop just one week after quitting
  • Fertility improves and likelihood of miscarriage reduces
  • Bad breath, stained teeth and gum disease become a thing of the past
  • Sense of taste and smell improves
  • Your facial appearance (wrinkles and pallor) improves within one month
  • Life expectancy increases by up to 10 years
  • Wounds heal quicker
  • Ex-smokers can save an average of £1300 in the first year

 In order to stop smoking, follow these steps:

  • Talk to your GP. They can offer you prescription medication, such as Zyban and Champix or suggest counselling. 
  • Join your local stop smoking service. You are up to four times more likely to quit smoking with the help of your local stop smoking service Smokefree Liverpool.
  • Keep an emergency phone number to hand. In case you need talk, have the number for either your local stop smoking service 0151 374 2535 or the national helpline 0800 061 4212 available at all times.

You may be interested in attending an online smoking cessation session delivered by Smokefree Liverpool, which we hold 4 times a year and can be booked via the Staff Events page.  

Resources to support smoking cessation

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Staff can use the Vivup EAP service to speak to a trained counsellor 24/7, 365 days a year. To access the support line, call 0330 380 0658 and mention you are LJMU staff or visit the website.