Stephanie Berger
212-305-4372
sb2247@columbia.edu

"QUIT MONDAY" -- A NEW APPROACH TO SMOKE CESSATION

May 31, 2006 -- To quit smoking, one has to fight a powerful addiction, according to American Legacy Foundation President and CEO, Cheryl Healton, DrPH. Most people try between 7 to 11 times before they succeed - often targeting special days such as New Year's, birthdays, high school or college reunions, anniversaries, etc. Unfortunately these dates occur only once annually, giving those who fail little incentive to try again soon.

But quitting just got easier. Legacy will join the Healthy Monday campaign, a project of the Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. The campaign invites people to make health behavior change starting each and every Monday. "People organize their lives around the week, which starts with Monday. It's the day to set goals, refocus, recommit. It is a user friendly platform from which to trigger and sustain healthy behavior," says Allan Rosenfield, MD, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health, "If one fails, there is no need to wait until next year - another Monday is just around the corner."

According to Audrey Cross, PhD, JD, MPH, director of the Healthy Monday campaign, "Compliance studies indicate that reminder systems can significantly improve attempts to change behavior. As Monday becomes "the day all health breaks loose" a social space is created that supports positive health change. Monday provides a sustainable cue to action - a weekly reminder that can revolutionize America's health."

Healthy Monday initiatives include "Search your Sunday, Go Healthy Monday," a faith-based program in conjunction with American Heart Association to promote heart health; Healthy Monday on Campus at the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University and the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University; Healthy Monday Menu Specials at Columbia University Medical Center; the "Monday Method" at the Cardiac Health Education Center, Healthy Monday food promotions at FreshDirect online grocers; and others such as "Monday Mile" clubs, "Move it Monday," "Meatless Monday," and others.

Visit the Healthy Monday website at www.healthymonday.org to view Healthy Monday programs, activities and initiates currently in action.

The Healthy Monday Project, in cooperation with American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and others, is comprised of leaders in the field of public health dedicated to improving the health of Americans by providing a social framework for the delivery of innovative, evidence-based health campaigns aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the leading causes of preventable disease in the United States. The Healthy Monday initiative centers on the use of Monday as the nationally recognized day dedicated to increasing health awareness, empowerment and action.

Healthy Monday was conceived by Sidney Lerner, chairman, Meatless Monday Campaign, Inc.

About the Mailman School of Public Health

The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and among the first in the nation Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to more than 950 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees.  Its students and more than 270 multi-disciplinary faculty engage in research and service in the city, nation, and around the world, concentrating on biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences.  ( www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu )