In Victoria, about 39% of people who play have a diagnosed mental illness. Among them, 41% have been diagnosed with depression and 39% with anxiety. Once people develop a gambling addiction, it can be difficult for them to stop. They may not want to talk about their situation or get professional support.
Problem gambling and mental illness often occur together. About three-quarters of people seeking treatment for a gambling problem also have a mental illness, most commonly a mood disorder, such as depression. If you are addicted to gambling, consequences can include financial losses, bankruptcy, loss of a job, homelessness, mental health problems, and broken personal relationships. They can be serious not only for you, but also for your family members and your friends and partners.
This suggests that doctors may be missing opportunities to address gambling problems that may be contributing to poor mental health outcomes. Provide baseline information for services in your state or territory to individuals reporting serious gambling problems, as well as family members, and support individuals in contracting these services. If you think you or someone you know may have a gambling addiction, talk to your doctor first. In a presentation to the royal commission on the state's mental health system, Settle has called for GPs to play a greater role in early intervention.
These negative consequences, or so-called gambling damages, will often follow or coincide with signs of problematic gambling behavior, which may include betting more money than intended, feeling guilty about gambling, chasing losses (coming back another day to try to recover previous losses), and gambling to escape from negative feelings or emotional states. Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content or advertising on the external website you are now accessing. Quitting gambling addiction isn't easy, but there are plenty of support services available if you think you have a problem with it. There may be a temptation to use credit to pursue your losses or pay off debts you may have as a result of gambling or other financial stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced income or loss of work.
Previous research suggests that there may be high rates of problem gambling in people seeking treatment for mental illness, but this had not been explored in an Australian context or in a large sample of patients. This report defines expenses as the net amount lost (amount wagered minus the amount won) by the people who play. See the Gambling Trends Study of the Australian Gambling Research Centre for more information on the pilot study.
