News release

Smoke-Free Mural Campaign for High School Students

Health (to Jan. 2011)

High school students from across the province are being invited to design murals promoting a smoke-free message as part of national non-smoking week, Jan. 19-25.

The smoke-free mural campaign is being organized by the Department of Health and the Regional Health Board's public health services.

"Smoking is a serious public health concern," said Health Minister Jim Smith. "Good education, restricting tobacco sales to minors, public awareness campaigns, cessation programs and smoke-free places are all necessary to improve the health status of Nova Scotians."

Students must paint the mural in the school or in the community. The mural can focus on a variety of non-smoking messages including the benefits of not smoking, dangers of second-hand smoke and the importance of smoke-free places. All murals must be completed by World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 1998.

Grants of up to $150 for purchasing art supplies and other materials will be offered to assist schools with this project.

"We want to encourage high school students to really think about how hazardous smoking is to their health," said Nancy Hoddinott, health educator with the tobacco control unit at the Department of Health. "The smoke-free mural campaign is a good opportunity for them to get together with their peers to talk about the importance of smoke-free places and being a non-smoker."

Additional non-smoking initiatives of the department include:

Smoke-Free for Life - a smoking prevention curriculum supplement for primary to nine developed by Drug Dependency Services in 1995. The goal is to provide students with opportunities to develop the awareness, attitudes, habits and skills that will help them achieve and maintain a smoke-free lifestyle.

Stop Smoking: A Program for Women -a woman-centred, group smoking cessation program. It helps to improve women's health by supporting them to stop or reduce smoking. It covers stress management, support, handling withdrawal, planning quit day, self esteem and relaxation. The program is being implemented in association with a variety of health organizations.

In addition, consultations continue with the business and hospitality industry regarding legislation for smoke-free places in Nova Scotia.

Public Health Services also implement a variety of non-smoking initiatives in the four health regions including a smoking prevention program for elementary school students called Kids Against Tobacco Smoke.