Smoking is a leading cause of the 7–25 year reduced life expectancy among people with mental health conditions (Walker et al., 2015). It makes people poorer and less likely to be employed, which increases the likelihood of poor mental health (ASH, 2020b).

By meeting the UK government’s ambition of a smokefree country by 2030, we will not only reduce physical health inequalities but also reduce the burden of mental ill health. This report is a practical document, designed to drive action locally, regionally and nationally across sectors. It is for people and organisations developing plans and strategies to improve mental and physical health in our communities, particularly those working to implement public mental health approaches to prevent poor mental health in society.