The state departments of Public Health and Mental Health and Addiction Services urged all Connecticut tobacco users to join smokers from around the nation participating in the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on Thursday.

The Great American Smokeout encourages tobacco users to quit for at least one day, with the hope that they will stay tobacco-free forever.

“Quitting tobacco is never easy. It’s very difficult to wake up and say ‘today is the day I will stop smoking.’ The Great American Smokeout gives tobacco users a date to quit, and the security of knowing that they are not quitting alone,” public health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said in a news release. “I strongly encourage tobacco users to utilize the cessation resources that DPH has available to increase their chances of quitting successfully.”

The Great American Smokeout encourages tobacco users to take the first step to successfully quit for a lifetime. To assist tobacco users, the health department has several programs available free of charge to Connecticut residents.

The Connecticut QuitLine at (800) 784-8669 has professionally trained quit coaches, many of whom are former smokers themselves, available to prepare participants for their quit date, which includes helping them to design an individualized quit plan, the health department said. Registration is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Online registration also is available at quitnow.net/Connecticut and a texting program to help stay on track.

Additionally, local tobacco use cessation programs provide face-to-face counseling services. To look for a nearby location, visit http://www.ct.gov/dph/tobacco for the program list. Also, there are several Smartphone apps available to help guide people through the quit process. The options available can be found at smokefree.gov.

For more information, visit www.ct.gov/dph/tobacco, “Quitting Tobacco Use.”