This webinar will present evidence-based strategies to engage and motivate smokers with mental health issues to cease smoking. It will cover the prevalence, theory and practice of nicotine addiction and its management. Key concepts will be introduced, as well as current best practice in pharmacotherapies and behavioural interventions. A case-study will be presented for discussion.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the behaviour of nicotine addiction and withdrawals
• Describe and debunk myths regarding smoking cessation treatment
• Assess and devise an individual smoking cessation plan
• Identify e-mental health smoking cessation resources and application

Speaker: Professor Renee Bittoun

Renee is an internationally recognised expert in the field of nicotine addiction and smoking cessation for more than 35 years. Renee started one of the world’s first Smokers’ Clinics in Sydney, Australia in 1979 at St. Vincent’s Hospital. She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international peer-reviewed, Journal of Smoking Cessation, published by Cambridge University Press. As a Professor in Life-style Medicine at the Avondale University, Notre Dame University Medical School and Addiction Medicine at Charles University, Prague, she continues to research and teach, the first University level courses in Nicotine Addiction and Smoking Cessation.

Presenter: Dr Phoebe Holdenson-Kimura

Phoebe is a GP working in Sydney who is passionate about promoting mental wellbeing and supporting GPs who have a special interest in Mental Health. With recent experience working in rural Far North Queensland and Cambodia, she is interested in rural and global perspectives on mental health.

This webinar is designed for GPs, GP registrars, psychologists, and allied mental health practitioners, or any other health professional with an interest in improving outcomes for patients with mental health conditions.