Health and wellbeing
Free online course available to help Walsall residents quit smoking
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Walsall Council’s Public Health team is encouraging residents to take advantage of a free online course as an aid to help people stop smoking, developed by The Sound Doctor.
The Sound Doctor’s stop smoking online course is divided into three modules. Each one contains several films and audio clips to help support residents in their journey to quit smoking, complementing the evidence-based programmes delivered by Be Well Walsall and Quit with Bella.
The online course resources include easy to follow videos featuring expert advice on topics such as the benefits of stopping smoking, motivational support for anyone thinking about quitting, what to do to prepare to quit, nicotine replacement products to help you quit, and what to do if you re-lapse or go back to smoking.
It is completely free for residents offered through Walsall’s community stop smoking services and can be accessed anytime from any device, with just one click.
“ We’re committed to making it easier for residents in Walsall to lead healthier lives. The Sound Doctor stop smoking course complements our expert-led stop smoking support. Residents can access the course at their own pace and from the comfort of their home. Alongside our stop smoking services including Be Well Walsall and Quit with Bella, we hope this will support our ambition to reduce smoking rates across the borough, and to help provide residents with a better understanding of the effects of smoking and the benefits of quitting altogether. “
“ We’re delighted to be working with Walsall Council and the community stop smoking providers to support people who want to quit smoking. Quitting is one of the hardest and best things you can do for your health, and we know how important it is to have the right information and encouragement along the way. The Sound Doctor films are designed to make that journey easier, offering expert advice, practical tools and real support in a format people actually want to use. “
To access the free course, visit the Sound Doctor website. Residents are encouraged to use this course as part of their stop smoking journey alongside expert-led support from Be Well Walsall or Quit with Bella. These services, commissioned by Walsall Council’s Public Health team, offer tailored advice and treatment options to help residents quit successfully.
Residents can sign up to receive 8 to 12 weeks of support through Be Well Walsall by calling 01922 444044. Treatment includes nicotine replacement therapy, regulated vapes and access to prescribed medication.
Quit with Bella (fully funded by Walsall Council) offers app provision from AI robo-coach Bella alongside support from a trained advisor, including a 12-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy or vapes. To sign up, visit the Solutions 4 Health website.
- Specialist stop smoking support provided by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust includes the Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service, where pregnant women and their partners can access support through the Walsall Health in Pregnancy Service. Advisors provide friendly behavioural support, nicotine replacement therapy and regulated vapes. Call 01922 270477 for more information or to refer.
- For those currently in hospital, the Tobacco Dependency Service supports patients who smoke or have smoked within the previous 30 days. Trained staff work with inpatients to help them quit smoking and offer nicotine replacement therapy.
- Patients and their companions who visit Walsall Manor Hospital’s Emergency Department can speak to trained staff to stop smoking, with an onward referral to a local service. To find out more, email wht.tdt@nhs.net.
- Specialist support is also offered to inpatients receiving mental health support through Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
- Using stop smoking services can significantly increase your chances of quitting successfully. The evidence suggests that smokers who utilise these services are up to three times more likely to quit for good compared to those who attempt to quit unaided. This increased likelihood is attributed to the combination of free behavioural support and access to stop smoking products and medications. The services offer a structured approach to understanding and overcoming the challenges of quitting smoking, making it a more effective strategy for long-term success (Source: NCSCT).
