Mental health and gambling harm campaign

Gambler’s Help Southern recently partnered with The Alfred Mental Health and Gambling Harm Service Victoria to develop an information campaign aimed at mental health clinicians called, ‘Gambling. What’s the harm?’

The campaign aims to draw attention to the link between gambling harm and mental health concerns, to ensure that gambling harm doesn’t go unidentified and untreated.

Why the focus on mental health?

Studies show that gambling harm and mental health concerns often co-occur.  And for many people, the shame and stigma associated with gambling can stop them from seeking support.  At the same time, it is recognised that people may be more likely to seek professional help for other issues such as anxiety, depression, family violence or substance use, than for their gambling problems.

Connect Health & Community, CEO Amanda Murphy, said the logical next step was to create awareness in the mental health support community of the potential link between the two.

“Society has made it taboo to talk about the losses or harm of gambling, and the impact of this is shocking. Shame, embarrassment and secrecy too often become the norm and people needlessly suffer in silence until it reaches crisis point, ”she said.

“We really encourage people to reach out and seek help early, the sooner we can start supporting clients the better the outcomes.”

“By working to help clinicians identify the gambling link for those who seek help, we can help to make a big change, one person at a time,” she said.

Help to raise awareness 

Ms Murphy said Gambler’s Help Southern, in partnership with The Alfred Mental Health and Gambling Harm Service Victoria, has developed a stakeholder toolkit including material designed to help clinicians:

• Understand the prevalence of gambling harm and its co-morbidities
• Identify the signs of gambling harm; and
• Start the conversation about gambling harm.

The kit is available to all mental healthcare organisations. 

For more information and to download the resources visit: gamblershelpsouthern.org.au/campaigns