Get support from those around you to quit smoking

Sometimes when we set ourselves a goal like stopping smoking, it can feel like it's hard to achieve on our own.

The people around you, also known as your 'social support', can help you on your journey to stopping smoking.

What is social support?

Social support are the people around you who can help you with many aspects of your life if you need them. This includes friends, neighbours, family, colleagues and health professionals.

They might help you cope with stress, provide a positive outlook or not offer you cigarettes when you're trying to quit.

How can social support help?

Social support can improve the quality of our lives by improving our mood and making us feel happier.

Generally, there are three broad types of help and support those around you can offer. There is:

• Practical support. For example, the people you share your house with don't leave smoking related items around.
• Emotional support. Your friend talks with you about how you're feeling since you started your quit attempt and offers you encouragement.
• Informational support. A family member finds useful phone lines you could call for extra support.

How can others help me?

Now have a think about the people you have in your own life. The ones that can encourage you to meet your goals and stick to them.

You might like to write these down.

It's also as important to think about who may hinder your efforts to stop smoking. You might want to spend less time with them at the beginning of your quitting journey.

Involving others to help you stop smoking

Making a plan of how others may be able to support you can be a positive way of helping you stay focused and motivated.

It may help you to write down who you think would be able to help you quit smoking. You should also think about the possible ways they could help you.

We encourage you to speak to the people you choose to nominate. It's important to know if that person is willing and currently able to support you. For example, they're not unwell or dealing with a major life event. 

If they are able to help, it's then important to discuss how best they may be able to provide that support to you.

You may like to suggest to them a way they may be able to help you and together agree on how they can help.

Create your own social support

Alternatively, if you would like to create your social support form in your own time, use the link below to download a PDF version.

Create your own social support (pdf version) (PDF, 134 KB)

Next steps

Keep track of your progress after you quit smoking