Gambling with Lives launches pilot project in Glasgow

Gambling with Lives is looking to reach families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicide and organisations providing support.

Gambling with Lives was set up by the families and friends of young people who have taken their own lives as a direct result of gambling.

No one knows how many deaths are related to gambling each year; research indicates that there may be between 250 and 650 gambling related suicides every year in the UK, a minimum of one every working day.

Glasgow has one of the highest suicide rates in the UK and more betting shops than anywhere else outside of London. Gambling with Lives is looking to reach families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicide in Glasgow and offer support and information. Gambling with Lives are also looking to work in partnership with organisations who are providing suicide bereavement support and may already be working with the families and friends of those who have died by gambling related suicide.

Aims

Gambling with Lives aim to support families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicide and raise awareness amongst gamblers, their families and friends, and health professionals of the dangers of gambling products and their potential to cause real and significant harms.

In support of these aims, Gambling with Lives will also seek to reduce gambling related harm by supporting better regulation of gambling products and the gambling industry.

Gambling with Lives will look to promote the treatment of gambling as a health issue which requires improved access to health services within the NHS, and access to support for families and friends.

Gambling with Lives also aim to 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.

Family Support Service

Gambling with Lives offers therapeutic mental health and bereavement support for families, couples, individuals, young people, and children affected by a gambling related suicide. This can range from peer support and telephone check ins to professional counselling. Gambling with Lives also offer support with complaints to the Gambling Commission, legal proceedings, and managing press interest.
This service is confidential and tailored to you.

If you have been bereaved by gambling related suicide and need some support you can refer yourself directly to Gambling with Lives by contacting them at support@gamblingwithlives.org (this link will take you away from our website) or on 07864 299 158.

It may be that you are a professional already working with someone who is bereaved by gambling related suicide. Feel free to get in touch to find out more about the work Gambling with Lives do and how they can support you and your service users. You can also reach Gambling with Lives at support@gamblingwithlives.org (this link will take you away from our website) or on 07864 299 158.

Should you feel impacted by what you’ve read, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123.

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