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Gambling with Lives
Our charity was set up following the suicides of the sons and partners of our founding trustees, which were a direct result of their addiction to gambling. A high proportion of suicides are caused by gambling. More suicides are inevitable until there is a much greater awareness of the suicide risk generally and amongst health professionals in particular. Our aim is to save lives and reduce families’ suffering due to gambling.
Our work in suicide prevention
Gambling with Lives provide a person-centred support model, aimed at addressing the frustrations in people’s lives that are making them ill. This may include housing, debt, domestic violence, children out of school, an offending history – just about anything. All staff are Mental Health First Aiders and have a sideways brief to have conversations about suicidal thoughts, and to provide crisis support and access to counselling/other services.
Our current priorities
Gambling with Lives aims to:
– Support families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicides
– Raise awareness amongst gamblers, their families and friends, and health professionals of the dangerous effects of gambling on mental health, and the high suicide risk;
In support of these aims, we will also seek to:
– Reduce gambling related harm by supporting better regulation of gambling products which lead to an increased risk of gambling addiction and adverse effects on health;
– Promote the treatment of gambling as a health issue which requires improved access to health services integrated with the NHS, and access to support for families and friends
– Give a voice to families and friends bereaved by gambling and bring the health issues surrounding gambling to the attention of policy makers and bodies responsible for regulating the gambling industry
Our current challenges
Reluctance within the industry and, to some extent, within organisations meant to be protecting people, to acknowledge the risk of mental health harm and of suicide. Time and resources. Lack of research evidence to inform action.