Smoking is very common in individuals with mental illnesses, but smoking cessation help is inadequately offered to them. Some 54% of Finnish psychiatrists often advise their patients to quit smoking, yet 34% often recommend nicotine replacement therapy, and only 12% of them often prescribe tobacco withdrawal medication. Factors that affect advisement in smoking cessation include the psychiatrists' own attitudes and personal smoking history, barriers within the work settings, and the patient's diagnosis. Because smoking poses detrimental effects on the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, as well as on the health of the patient, tailored and more intensive smoking cessation counseling should be offered to individuals with mental illnesses.