Health and wellbeing
Quit smoking with AI coach ‘Bella’ to quit for good
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Walsall residents can now get help to quit smoking with the help of an AI (artificial intelligence) coach.
Quit with Bella is a free app which has an AI-powered personal stop smoking robo-coach. The coach, Bella, is able to talk in a completely natural way and allows the user to have a human-like conversation.
The app supports thousands of people to give up smoking around the world and has already been used across the West Midlands (Birmingham, Dudley and Solihull).
Bella uses knowledge from trusted sources, including expert advice and guidance and provides a personalised response to a variety of different situations for users.
The app is ready to provide support for up to 12 weeks. Users have the AI support as well as the option to speak to an advisor, should they wish to. They have access to free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including vapes, posted to their home address to help with their quit. They can also join the Bella community to inspire and support others on their quit journey.
“ We are delighted to offer the Quit with Bella app to Walsall residents. This provides a great opportunity to help residents quit in their own time and at a pace that suits them, providing 24/7 access to the AI-coach Bella.
Further support is available including access to NRT and vapes. These, combined with expert support, can be used to help you quit for good, with the intention of moving away from vape use in the long-term.
I encourage residents to download the app today and give quitting smoking a go, even if you’ve tried to quit before. “
Quit with Bella is available for those living, working, or registered with a GP in Walsall. Download the Quit with Bella app from the App Store or Google Play. For more information visit www.quitwithbella.com, email walsall.stopsmoking@nhs.net or call 0800 772 3872.
- Quit with Bella is delivered by Solutions 4 Health, the largest provider of stop smoking services in the UK. They have been commissioned by Walsall Council Public Health to deliver a fully funded digital stop smoking app service to Walsall residents.
- Evidence has shown that people who use vapes to quit smoking, as well as having one-to-one expert support, are more likely to succeed.
- While nicotine is addictive, the real danger of smoking comes from the thousands of other harmful chemicals in cigarettes. Vaping (while not risk free) and nicotine replacement products (such as patches and gum), offer a much safer way to get nicotine without inhaling tobacco smoke. Public Health’s message for non-smokers, however, remains the same: if they do not smoke, they should not vape. Those under 18 years old should not be vaping and it is illegal to sell or buy vapes for under 18s.
- Other support is available for Walsall residents to quit smoking including Be Well Walsall, which provides up to 12 weeks of free personalised support, including vapes. Support is offered to anyone living, working or registered with a GP in Walsall who wants to quit with the help of health and wellbeing coaches.
- Residents can also access a free quit smoking video-based course via The Sound Doctor. The course is ideal for anyone considering quitting smoking or is unsure of where to start and would like more information.
