Does the Isle of Man need a stop smoking service specifically for young people? That’s the question being posed as part of a new survey. The majority of clients who use the Quit4You service - the Island’s free stop smoking service, providing practical advice, support and encouragement to anyone who wants to quit - are over the age of 21. Young people are now being urged to put their views forward for this new research through focus groups, an online survey, Facebook group and a ‘Quit Kit’ Competition.
Danni Mottram, Healthier Outcomes Worker at The Children’s Centre and a Specialist Stop Smoking Advisor, said:
“Teenagers and young adults already have access to advice and support which helps them to stop smoking, but statistics show that only a small percentage of young smokers quit through the Quit4You service in the Isle of Man. To enable trained smoking cessation advisors to assist young smokers, we need to find out from the young people themselves how they would like to be supported. The research collection methods are designed to encourage them to put forward their own ideas about what would help them to deal with a range of issues related to smoking - whether that’s helping young people to stop smoking, preventing them from taking up smoking, or helping them to encourage their parents or friends who want to give up smoking.”
The competition to design a ‘Quit Kit’ that could help young smokers kick the habit has prizes on offer for the top three entries including a bowling session, cinema tickets and a ?20 gift voucher - with one of these prizes going to each of the top three entries. It is open to smokers and non-smokers aged 11 to 21. The challenge is to write or draw everything young people would like to see in a Quit Kit box with a brief explanation of the reasons for the choices. Entries can also be made by emailing Quit Kit box ideas - together with your name, age, and contact details - to daniellemottram@thechildrenscentre.org.im; by post to The Children’s Centre, Woodbourne Road, Douglas, IM2 3AS, or by texting your entry to 418971.
The Facebook group allows people to enter the competition online as well as taking part in online discussions - it can be found by searching for ‘Butt Out!’ on Facebook or by going to this link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/131439736956627/
THE CHILDREN’S CENTRE
The group is only accessible by those aged 13 and over and includes a link to an online survey which can also be accessed via The Children’s Centre website. The research is being supported by The Children’s Centre and Department of Health.
Anita Imberger, Tobacco Strategy Coordinator from Public Health said:
“Only 7.5% of clients who have attended the Quit4You Service are aged 15-21. We really want to find out from young people if we should tailor the service differently to suit their needs. When we originally set up Quit4You in 2006, we ran focus groups with young people to find out their views, but the main aim was to develop an Island wide service which has probably catered more to adults. We now need to review what might help young people to think about quitting smoking or accessing support, by using lots of different methods, including social media sites. I really would encourage any young person to take part in Danni’s research, particularly those who currently smoke, as your views are really important to us.”
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