May 2008

Project tackles gambler depression

The Alfred Hospital’s psychiatry department has developed an innovative Australia-first program to tackle the mental health problems of problem gamblers.

Suicide, depression, debts and substance abuse are all associated with this growing group of people.

The program, aimed at helping problem gamblers with suicidal tendencies, follows an Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre study.

The study showed up to 80 per cent of pathological gamblers experienced suicide thoughts and up to 23 per cent of problem gamblers attempted suicide.

Crisis Assessment Treatment Team (CATT) manager Suellen Butler said the Department of Justice had provided a 12-month grant for crisis intervention to those who present to the Alfred’s emergency department with suicidal tendencies and gambling problems.

‘We are looking at not just those who attempt suicide but those who are so distressed by gambling, and all the problems that come with it, that they have thought of suicide as being their only option,’ Ms Butler.

Project worker Michael Field, a registered psychiatry nurse, began the 12-month role last month.

‘I'll be providing sessions of therapy and linking people into appropriate services like counselling treatment.’

Previous research showed, within a six month period, 71 people who came into the Alfred with suicidal tendencies were also problem gamblers.

‘If you have a gambling problem you are four times more likely to have suicidal tendencies,’ Mr Field said.

‘Those who are problem gamblers are more at risk of depression, substance use, relationship breakdowns and big debts—gambling leads to a wide variety of problems.

‘A lot of clients will not seek treatment for their gambling but they will for depression or suicidal thoughts—they become overwhelmed.

‘Many play pokies as a way of relieving their symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychosis and this group is a lot more vulnerable to an addiction to pokie machines.

‘A lot of clients say they use pokies venues as a relief to what is troubling them but this short-term relief leads to long-term problems.’

The project also comprises a research element, run by the Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, which will study the outcomes of intervention.

There will also be an educational component to the project, training gambling help groups on the mental health issues gamblers may face.

Referrals to the program will come through CATT and the emergency department.