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Gambling and Mental Health

Gambling and Mental Health

Gambling is a popular pastime but some people can become addicted to it and can suffer significant harm as a result. It is therefore important to recognise the risk and help those who are struggling.

In a primary care setting, the evaluation of patients for addictive disorders is a growing part of clinical practice. However, it is a difficult subject to broach with patients because of the stigma associated with addictions. Despite this, there is growing evidence that gambling behavior is a significant risk factor for mental health problems such as alcohol misuse and depression, as well as suicidal ideation.

Unlike drugs, gambling is a legal activity and there is a growing recognition of its role as a potential risk factor for suicide. In fact, there is a strong link between suicidal thoughts and gambling and there are many services available to support people who have concerns about their gambling behaviour.

The main types of gambling are betting on sports events or games, lotteries and online gambling. There are also other forms of unregulated gambling including card games, dice and skill-based video games. The internet has made it easier than ever to access these activities. In addition, many mobile phones and tablets now come with casino-style games and gambling apps that are available to use anywhere, 24 hours a day.

There are many myths about gambling. People often think of gambling as a way to make money but the truth is that most people lose more than they win. It is important to remember that gambling should only be done with money that you can afford to lose.

It is also important not to gamble when you are angry, sad or lonely or while drinking alcohol. This can lead to higher losses and can be more difficult to stop. In addition, it is a good idea to avoid high-risk situations such as carrying large amounts of cash, using credit cards and socialising with others while gambling.

Research suggests that around 2.5 million adults in the United States meet the criteria for a gambling disorder. Another 5-8 million have mild or moderate gambling problems. People who are at higher risk of developing gambling problems include those with low incomes, young people and men. In some cases, a family history of gambling disorder or other mental health problems can increase the chances of someone developing a problem.

The medical literature on the relationship between gambling and mental health is extensive. To identify relevant articles for this review, the Medline database was searched (using MeSH terms and the text word “gambling”) to include articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 1966 and 2001. Articles were included if they discussed the health effects of gambling, screened for pathological gambling and/or provided treatments for it. Several studies found that problem gambling was associated with poorer general health and mental wellbeing. In addition, there was a direct association between the onset of gambling problems and other factors such as age, genetics, culture and medical history.