New research has suggested there is a link between problem gambling and suicide risk among young adults in the UK.
The study unveiled that, over the course of a year, young people aged from 16 to 24 whose problem gambling behaviour deteriorated and resulted in more serious gambling-related harm were 2.74 times more likely to try and commit suicide than the ones whose gambling habits remained pretty much unchanged.
The scientists at the University of Glasgow who carried out the study, have noted that gambling-related harm refers to the unfavourable impact that gambling has on people’s well-being, health, and relationships. One of the professors who participated in the research, Dr Helen Wardle, shared that their latest study added to a growing evidence base that enhances the claims that gambling should be officially recognised as a risk factor in suicide prevention plans.
According to experts, the study was extremely important because it followed one particular group of young people over time and was aimed at tracking any changes in their gambling habits and suicide-related behaviour.
As researchers from the University of Glasgow shared, any increase in the experienced gambling-related harm, no matter the person’s starting point, may be considered an important factor for a potentially higher chance of experiencing thoughts of death and making a suicide attempt.
Competent Authorites Have to Be More Supportive of Young Gambling Addicts, Researchers Say
Researchers have noted that young adults are not only more susceptible to gambling-related harm but they are more inclined of taking risks, including impulsivity and engaging in adrenaline-seeking behaviour and experiments.
The results of the research showed that while loneliness, impulsivity, anxiousness, and low well-being account for some of the association between gambling and risky/suicidal behaviour among young people, they are unable to fully explain it. Dr Helen Wardle explained that suicide remains a leading cause of death among young adults, particularly young men. Many of the individuals who took part in the study have shared they felt suicidal. That is exactly why researchers believe that gambling disorders should not be debated as a risk factor for suicidality. They also called for the competent authorities to be more supportive of individuals experiencing the negative consequences of gambling, especially when it comes to children and young adults.
One of the co-authors of the study – Sally McManus from City, University of London, explained that the latest research showed that interventions aimed at reducing gambling-related harm might be potentially beneficial for the reduction of suicidality levels in the UK society.
According to researchers, the findings of their study suggest that the country’s Government and competent authorities have to quickly identify people who may be facing greater gambling-related harm and intervene, especially when it comes to underage individuals or young adults. They have insisted on the implementation of repeated screening and a better routine to be embedded within social care, GP surgeries, and other relevant organisations providing public and social services.
- Author
Daniel Williams
