On the 1<sup>st</sup> of October, 2014, the British Heart Foundation launched a University College London project attempting to help struggling smokers suffering from mental illnesses quit with e-cigarettes.

The organisation claims individuals with a mental illness have a lower life expectancy as they are more likely to smoke and find it harder to quit.

They find it hard to quit as they feel their mental health me deteriorate if they stop smoking, <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/research-projects/joint-bhfcruk-lynn-macfadyen-phd-studentship-in-tobacco-control-ecigarettes-for-harm-reduction-in-people-with-mental-illness" target="_blank">the report says</a>.

As e-cigarettes have helped <a href="http://www.risefromtheashes.co.uk/e-cigarettes-helping-thousands-quit/" target="_blank">thousands of smokers quit</a>, the BHF believes the devices should be recommended by healthcare professionals to help those with mental illness quit.

GPs will also be <a href="http://www.risefromtheashes.co.uk/nhs-to-prescribe-e-cigarettes/" target="_blank">prescribing the devices</a> in the UK soon.

The study ends on the 1<sup>st</sup> of October 2017.