People With Mental Health Conditions

Know the Facts

Smoking is much more common among adults with mental health conditions than in the general population.

• In fact, in 2019, 27.2% of U.S. adults with any mental illness reported smoking cigarettes during the past month compared to 15.8% of adults with no mental illness.^*,†
• Approximately 1 in 4 (or 25%) of adults in the U.S. have some form of mental illness or substance use disorder, and these adults consume almost 40% of all cigarettes smoked by adults.^*

For More Information

• Learn what percent of people currently smoke cigarettes, both in the United States overall and among specific populations.

Real Stories: People Featured in Tips^®

Meet Rebecca M. Rebecca, age 57, an avid runner, lives in Florida. She is a single mom and grandparent who was diagnosed with depression at age 33. Rebecca quit smoking at age 52.

Learn more about all Tips^® participants in our Real Stories section.

Quitting Help

People with mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, face challenges in quitting smoking and may benefit from extra help to succeed. With the right support, you can quit smoking without worsening your mental health condition. In fact, studies show that quitting smoking can be good for your mental health.

To get started right now, see our How to Quit Smoking area featuring a Quit Guide.

Get free help to quit smoking by calling a quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Quitline coaches can answer questions, help you develop a quit plan, and provide support.

Quit-smoking treatments may be free or reduced in price through insurance, health plans, or clinics.

State Medicaid programs cover quit-smoking treatments. While the coverage varies by state, all states cover some treatments for at least some Medicaid enrollees.

Medicare currently covers two quit attempts per year and up to four face-to-face counseling sessions per attempt.