Adults diagnosed with mental health conditions are more likely to use tobacco products than the general population. The NIH reports that the percentage who reported past-month cigarette smoking was 1.8 times higher for those with any past-year mental illness than those without (28.2% vs. 15.8%). Smoking rates are particularly high among people with serious mental illness (those who demonstrate greater functional impairment). While estimates vary, as many as 70-85% of people with schizophrenia and as many as 50-70% of people with bipolar disorder smoke (NIH, 2019).
People with serious mental illness are less likely to quit smoking without assistance from a healthcare provider- about 14% less likely than individuals without any history with mental illness (SAMHSA, 2018). Screening for both tobacco use and any history of mental illness is crucial in tobacco use treatment. Not only does tobacco use and e-cigarette use worsen the symptoms of most mental illnesses, but less than half of the mental health treatment centers in the United States offer tobacco treatment programs (CDC, 2021).
You can find resources specifically designed for healthcare providers working in behavioral health settings below.