This newly published study suggests that not only smokers themselves, but those also being exposed to secondhand smoke, are at significantly increased risk for mental health problems.
Research has supported for a long time that there is definitely a link between smoking and mental health, but what still has yet to be established is whether the relationship is causal or whether those who already have mental health problems are more likely to take up smoking.
And now, evidence suggesting that smoking around other people may actually increase their chance of developing mental health concerns, seems to support that in some way the relationship is causal. In other words, it seems to suggest that there is in fact something about nicotine or smoking that may actually help cause mental health problems.
It's an interesting article, and the topic has specific relevance to LGBT health issues. We know that within LGBT communities, research shows that we are at increased risk for smoking, and smoke at much higher rates than the general population, and we are also at increased risk for mental health concerns for a variety of reasons.
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