A new personal support service to help those wanting to quit cigarettes has been launched by the HSE.
The new QUIT team provides trained advisors, interactive digital tools, empathy and support, and the health authority say it will make smokers twice as likely to quit for good.
Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director for Health and Wellbeing, said: “1 in every 2 smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease, and over 5000 families will lose a loved one this year due to tobacco.”
The QUIT team now provides support to quitters across a range of channels – over the phone (a 20 minute phone consultation) on Twitter and Facebook, and by SMS and email.
Those wanting to quit smoking can also use the brand new interactive QUIT.ie website, talking to the QUIT team via Live Chat, and using an online QUIT plan.
As well as the new online and phone based support there is also a network of face-to face HSE QUIT services in many locations around the country, providing one-to-one and group support for smokers.
Quitters can also order a QUIT kit on quit.ie which includes the QUIT booklet guide to quitting, a money box for saving the cash not spent on cigarettes, a wristband and pencil, a wallet card and post-it pack and its all free.
