NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has launched the latest stage of its powerful What Will You Miss? campaign, urging smokers to consider the precious life moments they risk losing — from birthday celebrations to time with grandchildren— if they continue to smoke.
Research for the campaign shows that half of smokers in Cheshire and Merseyside “really want to quit”, with a further 21% saying they know they should.
The findings also reveal the scale of previous attempts to stop smoking: 64% have tried to quit before, with 39% making multiple attempts and 13% trying at least four times.
Dr Sarah McNulty, Director of Public Health for Knowsley and Lead Director of Public Health for Cheshire and Merseyside’s All Together Smokefree programme, said:
“The ‘What Will You Miss?’ campaign is about helping people recognise just how much they stand to gain by quitting.
“For many smokers, it’s not the facts and figures that make the difference but rather thinking about the moments they don’t want to lose.
“Behind every attempt to quit smoking is a powerful personal reason, and we want people to know they don’t have to face that challenge alone.”
Cllr Christine Bannon, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Health, said:
“Even if you’ve tried before and didn’t manage to quit, don’t give up. You can do it.
“Taking that step towards being smoke-free can massively improve your life and give you a better chance at being around for your loved ones – it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried, it’s worth trying again.
“Smokers are three times more likely to succeed in quitting with help from a trained professional than with willpower alone. Contact Smokefree Knowsley for free, specialist support and advice to help you on your journey to stop smoking.”
In Knowsley, you have access to free, specialist support through the Knowsley Stop Smoking Service. Whether you need advice on nicotine replacement or just someone to help you stay on track, our local experts are ready to support you.
You can access free support from Smokefree Knowsley by calling 0151 426 7462, texting quit to 61825 (normal network charge) or visiting the website: www.smokefreeknowsley.org.uk
You can visit The Smoking Ends Here website for free advice, information, and details of local services available across the region.