New report: Explore Mental Health and Gambling Harm

Read the Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme's event report which explores the link between mental health and gambling harms.

“Gambling addiction is a mental health disorder. We can’t look at both issues in isolation.”

Read a new report which shares findings from the Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm’s roundtable event ‘Identifying problems and proposing solutions: exploring the link between mental health and gambling harms’. This event took place on 18th May 2023.

The event brought together people with lived experience, those who work in addressing
and reducing gambling harms and those who work across mental health to discuss
challenges and propose solutions to take forward as a collaborative. It is hoped these
solutions influence a range of actors across society to address the link between
gambling harm and poor mental health. From this event, six key themes were highlighted:
Difficulties accessing treatment and support
Participants discussed at depth the limited support available in Scotland for people experiencing mental ill-health as a result of gambling harm. It was shared that it can be hard to find support, that pathways to treatment aren’t clear and choice is limited.

Limited data, research, and evidence
Further independent research, and evidence of the link between mental health and gambling harm is essential. Participants highlighted the need for good quality data on how they connect, the scale and extent of harm from gambling in Scotland and the need to gather data with an intersectional approach.

The need for a collective voice
Another theme that emerged was the need to establish a collective voice in Scotland for those working to address gambling harm. Participants described that they valued the space to come together with decision makers to share priorities, which is hoped to contribute to social change. Partnership working was identified as a key mechanism to establish a collective voice to address both intersecting issues.

The role of activism
Activism has an important role on raising awareness and creating public pressure on policymakers to address gambling harm in Scotland. People shared the need to nurture recovery communities in Scotland and acknowledge the role activism plays in influencing change.
The impact of stigma
Although some progress has been made to destigmatise mental illness and experiencing poor mental health, stigma and shame around gambling harm still exists. A lack of awareness of the issue, the hidden nature of harms and the prevalence of gambling advertisements all contribute to a perpetuation of gambling-related stigma.
The wider context
The final theme contextualised several different factors which must be addressed to fully understand and address gambling harms and mental health in Scotland. To fully address both issues, the role of funding, industry accountability, education and prevention, advertisement, and the regulation of online and land-based gambling must all be considered.

The Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme looks forward to sharing these findings widely over the coming months, and would like to thank everyone who attended the roundtable event. If you would like to find out more about future events, or how to get involved with this work, please email: gamblingharm@alliance-scotland.org.uk.

Read the full event report below.

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