Quitting smoking gave me 'precious' family time

A mother said quitting smoking through a council service which focuses on reducing stress meant she was no longer taking away "precious" time with her family.

Sophie Brock, 38, smoked periodically from 14 years-old but quit in February 2025 using West Sussex County Council's Quit4Wellbeing service.

Brock, from Crawley, said quitting was "easier than I thought" thanks to being able to speak to a support worker, and set goals for herself.

Claire Tickell, a smoking cessation officer at the hub Sophie was referred to, said the key reason for people not wanting to quit smoking or relapsing was usually stress.

"I think that's why there's such a move now to help people actually deal with stress...so they can quit smoking successfully," Tickell said.

Brock said she did not want to be out with her children "and then be like, 'I've got have a break, wait a second'."

She said: "You're taking away your precious time with your child. It's not worth it really."

West Sussex County Council's "Stop Smoking, Feel Happier" scheme focuses on how quitting smoking reduces stress, helping people feel "calmer and brighter".

The scheme, part of South East Smokefree Alliance's (SESA) mission for the region to be smoke-free by 2030, includes drop-in centres for face-to-face support, behavioural support and medication to help quit smoking.

Office for National Statistics figures showed 10.6% of adults in West Sussex were smokers in 2024.

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