Government proposals to enforce a smoking ban in mental healthcare are likely to be very unpopular, according to new research published in the Journal of Public Health.

Researchers asked 2,574 clinicians about their attitudes to healthcare settings as smoke-free environments. The results showed clear differences between mental health staff and those in general healthcare settings. One in three psychiatric staff were against such a ban compared with just one in ten for staff in general healthcare.

In consultation on the recent Health Act (2006), the government has proposed that only those premises that provide long-term accommodation will be exempt from smoke-free legislation.

But many staff worry that introducing a smoking ban in mental health units could cause confrontation between patients and staff.

The researchers concluded that staff attitudes need to be carefully considered in psychiatric settings when implementing smoke-free policies.