Research Aims to Help Prevent Gambling-related Suicide

A psychology professor from the University of Lincoln, UK, will undertake first-of-its-kind research, in a significant project which will aim to better understand and help prevent gambling-related suicide.

Amanda Roberts, Professor in Psychology, will lead the project, “Investigating Gambling-related Suicide”, which has been co-developed alongside those with lived experience of gambling-related harm.

For some, gambling provides a source of entertainment, however, it is widely linked to negative outcomes and circumstances including poor mental and physical health, domestic violence, and homelessness. One of the most serious consequences of gambling can be suicide, or attempted suicide. There are currently no official figures relating to the role of gambling in suicide as it is difficult to measure, due to the complexities of taking one’s life.

There will be a psychological autopsy study which will involve a comprehensive review of the circumstances and events which have led to gambling-related suicide, by investigating the risk factors of behaviours, environment, and context.

Speaking about the significance of this research, Professor Amanda Roberts said: “Having accurate information on gambling-related suicide is vitally important for public health approaches which are aimed at preventing suicide.

“Our research will aid better understanding of the mechanistic relationship between gambling and suicide, how individuals experience gambling-related suicidality, and the role of contributory and mitigating factors.”

Rozie Corbett Chief Operating Officer, Gambling with Lives, commented: “Gambling with Lives has long warned that gambling can lead directly to suicides, based on the experiences of the many bereaved families we support and our own research.

“Bereaved families have played a crucial role in ensuring that the link between gambling and suicide is now widely recognised in society, with gambling now included as one of six key risk factors in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

“This project will establish why that link is so strong and what needs to be done to protect the public and finally reduce the deaths.”

This project will establish why that link is so strong and what needs to be done to protect the public and help prevent suicides.

The findings from the study could have an extremely significant impact on public healthcare, providing insights into the warning signs of suicide, as well as common themes and underlying causes of which. It is hoped that these outcomes will inform the development of prevention and intervention strategies which can be implemented throughout the UK.

The research will be conducted by a consortium of industry experts and academic input involving the Universities of Lincoln, Cambridge, Manchester, Nottingham, and Southampton, Kings College London, Gambling with Lives, GamLEARN, the NHS Southern Gambling Service, and the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and the University of Hong Kong.

A consortium letter to the editor of Addiction journal has been published and is available to read online: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16668?af=R.