MDI Hospital receives $16,049 grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation to support free Breathe Easy Together smoking cessation classes
Guest post contributed by MDI Hospital.
MDI Hospital receives $16,049 grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation to support free Breathe Easy Together smoking cessation classes
Quitting smoking is notoriously difficult, but the health benefits of living smoke-free are vast and long-lasting. MDI Hospital has received a boost in its efforts to help Hancock County smokers achieve better health: a grant of $16,049 from the Maine Cancer Foundation to support its Tobacco Treatment and Prevention Program.
Key to the hospital's program is a recurring series of free classes, called Breathe Easy Together, open to all smokers and vapers who are seeking to quit tobacco, or even just to cut back on its use. MDI Hospital health coaches Mary Parham, Sarah O’Neil, and Laura Rich are the program's organizers and leaders.
"Our Breathe Easy Together group is for anyone thinking about quitting, even if they’re not quite ready to take that step yet," Laura Rich explains. "Quitting doesn’t happen all at once for most people, so we focus on building skills--like managing triggers, coping with stress, nicotine replacement therapy and connecting with local resources--to help participants begin the process toward living a life without smoking."
Breathe Easy Together is innovative and locally responsive, designed by MDI Hospital's health coaches and based on the American Lung Association's established Freedom From Smoking program. "We needed to shift direction to meet the needs of our community," Rich says. "A two-hour weekly commitment over seven weeks just isn’t realistic for many people here, especially during the lead-up to the island’s busy season. So, with the American Lung Association’s support, we adapted their program into Breathe Easy Together--now just 60 minutes per week for four weeks. It delivers the core of the program in less than half the time, making it a much more realistic option for those ready to begin the quitting process."
The first Breathe Easy Together session begins with a carbon monoxide breath test for class participants. Active smokers have significant levels of CO in their lungs; after discontinuing smoking, CO levels drop and ultimately return to normal. The last class session brings another CO measure, demonstrating participants’ progress on their quit journey.
The next four-week Breathe Easy Together session begins on Tuesday, April 28th at 3 pm. In-person classes will be held at The Fernald Point Building in Southwest Harbor. Participants are also welcome to attend classes virtually via Zoom. Free self-help items will be given to each participant, including gum and candies, fidget spinners, stress balls, herbal tea, and workbooks.
MDI Hospital's goal is to give smokers and vapers durable tools, knowledge, and group support, so that they can implement the most important change possible: giving up the habit of smoking. All of these services are provided free of charge.
To register for Breathe Easy Together, visit https://www.mdihospital.org/breathe-easy-together-smoking-cessation/, or contact Laura Rich at 207-460-7451, or laura.rich@mdihospital.org .
The Maine Cancer Foundation’s grant is offered as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce cancer incidence and mortality in Maine. They have invested over $15 million since 2015 to advance cancer prevention, early detection and screening, and access to care for all Mainers.
To learn more about Maine Cancer Foundation, visit www.mainecancer.org, or contact Katelyn Michaud, katelyn@mainecancer.org, 207.773.2533.
Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) is dedicated to reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates in Maine. 100% of the funds raised are invested back into our communities to benefit the people of Maine.
Mount Desert Island (MDI) Hospital serves a close-knit island and surrounding communities through a 25-bed critical access facility in Bar Harbor and a network of area health centers--all designed to provide comprehensive healthcare for residents and visitors.