With smoking rates in the LGBTIQA+ community nearly double the national average, Quit launched a new campaign supporting people who are part of these communities to stop smoking and vaping.
No two quitting experiences are alike. Every smoker has their own experience with trying to quit smoking and different motivations for doing so.
For Thomas, his quitting journey had its ups and downs. “Whilst I was aware of the health issues my smoking was causing; I perhaps wasn’t as concerned about it as I should have been,” said Thomas, who shared his quitting journey as part of the campaign.
With each quitting attempt, Thomas moved closer to his goal. “Having a good support network is really important as well,” he said, grateful for the support of his partner and friends who had been through a similar journey.
A key motivator for Thomas to quit was his dog, Albert. “One of the benefits that I hadn’t thought of was how smoking can affect our fur families as well. Second-hand smoking is actually a big risk factor for pets. One of the many reasons that I quit was for Albert’s health as well.”
Quit Director, Rachael Andersen, spoke of the significance of the campaign for the LGBTIQA+ community. “This campaign reminds us that quitting is a deeply personal experience, and everyone’s journey is different. Collaborating with community members to share stories and help more people on their journey to quit was integral to the campaign’s success.”
“We saw a 37 per cent increase in self-referrals to the Quitline from people who identify as LGBTQIA+ as a result of the campaign. People felt that the campaign imagery and messaging was relevant to them, and that’s what we will continue to harness for future campaigns,” concluded Rachael.
Quitline offers inclusive, culturally sensitive support tailored to the needs of the LGBTIQA+ community, providing a safe and supportive environment to help everyone take the first step towards better health.
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