Smoking rates amongst Bangladeshi males is almost double the national average of smokers in England.

A new call for families to urge their loved ones to quit the deadly habit comes during Stoptober.

Smoking rates amongst Bangladeshi males is 36% compared to the national average of smokers in England -18.4%.

It is higher than rates in males from the Pakistani, (25%) and Indian (15%1) communities.

All those who sign up to this year’s Stoptober campaign will receive support and encouragement every step of the way from some of the nation’s top comedians.

And to stand an even better chance of quitting, they are encouraged to sign up with their friends, family and colleagues, as evidence reveals that this type of ‘social quitting’ can dramatically improve people’s chances of successfully stopping.

Research shows that smokers are a third more likely to quit when a close friend (36%) or someone they work with (34%) stops.

The data also shows that individuals are much more likely (61%), to smoke if a friend or someone they are close to smokes – showing the powerful influence that people’s social networks have on their own smoking behaviour.3 This is backed up by a study of smokers in Australia, Canada, the UK and the United States which shows that the fewer smoking friends someone has, the more likely they are to succeed in a quit attempt.

This year, Stoptober will be providing quitters with a personal touch from some of the nation’s leading comedians – Shappi Khorsandi, Bill Bailey, Al Murray and Rhod Gilbert. Messages of support and encouragement will be sent straight to quitters’ phones and emails throughout October.

Over a quarter of a million people across the country signed up to Stoptober last year with more than half making it to 28 days; this year, it is expected the campaign will welcome the millionth sign up. By stopping smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to stop for good.

Louise Ross, STOP service manager from Leicester City who has helped many people from the Bangladeshi community successfully quit says: “We know that many Bangladeshi smokers work long hours, often in the food and catering industry, and it might be difficult to get off work for an appointment with a stop smoking service. However, many pharmacists deliver the service at weekends and evenings, and we’d say, just ask.

"You’ll get valuable help to stop smoking, and you’ll wish you had done it sooner. Every pound saved from not smoking is a pound back in your pocket. So go on, give Stoptober a go this year.”

Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director of Health and Wellbeing for Public Health England said: “We know that Bangladeshi men are up to ten times more likely to smoke than Bangladeshi women, and nearly twice as likely to smoke as other Asian communities.

"The benefits of stopping smoking are almost immediate: quitters will soon see reduced blood pressure, easier breathing and better circulation.

"It is one of the best things a person can do to improve their health and reduce their chances of developing long-term conditions and dying prematurely”

“This year, Stoptober will be providing people with more engaging and personalised support than ever.

"Along with receiving proven advice and support, participants this year will get encouragement every day from some of the best comedians in the country to help them reach 28 days smokefree. Sign up today and get ready to start your quitting journey with our support on 1 October.”

Shappi Khorsandi who is supporting this year’s campaign says, “I have friends and family who haven’t been able to stop smoking and so I know how hard quitting can be.

"That’s why this Stoptober, I’m on hand to offer encouragement, support and a little bit of TLC when the going gets tough. Make it through 28 days and you’re five times more likely to quit for good.”

By signing up to Stoptober, participants can choose from a range of free support tools including daily emails and text messages from the comedians throughout the 28 day quit attempt as well as a mobile phone app which includes lots more tips and advice - all of which have shown to increase the chances of staying smokefree.

To sign up to the nation’s biggest mass quit attempt, search Stoptober online or visit http://smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober