Smoking, Stress and Inequality in Bexley

A research study, Smoking, Stress and Inequality in Bexley: Lived Experience Insights on Smoking, Vaping and Quitting, led by Mind in Bexley in partnership with Healthwatch Bexley, explores the lived experience of smoking, vaping and quitting across the borough. Drawing on a survey of 360 residents, alongside focus groups and in-depth interviews, the study goes beyond statistics to understand why smoking persists. It finds that smoking is closely linked to stress, mental health and financial pressure, with most participants wanting to quit but struggling to sustain change during periods of instability.

The findings highlight the need for more integrated, relational and psychologically informed support, aligning smoking cessation with wider mental health and community services to reduce health inequalities in Bexley.