This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2017/oct/09/gambling-addiction-professional-training-mental-health
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gambling remains a hidden addiction because 'healthcare staff lack training' | Gambling remains a hidden addiction because 'healthcare staff lack training' |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Gambling is often described as a hidden addiction. Yet there are an estimated 400,000 problem gamblers in the UK. Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, consultant psychiatrist at the National Problem Gambling Clinic – the only one of its kind in the UK – says that a lack of training among healthcare professionals could partly be to blame for the problem flying under the radar. | Gambling is often described as a hidden addiction. Yet there are an estimated 400,000 problem gamblers in the UK. Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, consultant psychiatrist at the National Problem Gambling Clinic – the only one of its kind in the UK – says that a lack of training among healthcare professionals could partly be to blame for the problem flying under the radar. |
| “For many years while drug and alcohol addictions were being researched and funded in terms of treatment, the issue of gambling wasn’t taught at medical school,” Bowden-Jones says. “Even as an addictions psychiatrist, we weren’t taught about pathological gambling – I came across it by chance.” | “For many years while drug and alcohol addictions were being researched and funded in terms of treatment, the issue of gambling wasn’t taught at medical school,” Bowden-Jones says. “Even as an addictions psychiatrist, we weren’t taught about pathological gambling – I came across it by chance.” |
| Problem gambling can lead to arguments and emotional violence in the home, she says, often because one person wants to spend money that was saved up for retirement, for example, or the mortgage. | Problem gambling can lead to arguments and emotional violence in the home, she says, often because one person wants to spend money that was saved up for retirement, for example, or the mortgage. |
| Gambling, Bowden-Jones adds, also moves any focus or passion away from a loved one: “It’s linked to the emotional disconnection you end up having with your partner or children because you’re just not there, either physically because you’re in the bookmakers or mentally because you’re disengaged, thinking about the gambling.” | Gambling, Bowden-Jones adds, also moves any focus or passion away from a loved one: “It’s linked to the emotional disconnection you end up having with your partner or children because you’re just not there, either physically because you’re in the bookmakers or mentally because you’re disengaged, thinking about the gambling.” |
| And problems can go beyond mental or emotional issues: “Physically, we see people who are very underweight because they’re not eating – either because they’re gambling or because they haven’t the money to do so. Addicts aren’t healthy because they sit in front of a screen at home. You can imagine the consequences of not moving for months or years on end.” | And problems can go beyond mental or emotional issues: “Physically, we see people who are very underweight because they’re not eating – either because they’re gambling or because they haven’t the money to do so. Addicts aren’t healthy because they sit in front of a screen at home. You can imagine the consequences of not moving for months or years on end.” |
| One of the biggest issues is that problem gamblers are not accessing treatment or people do not know how to get help. Last year, support charity GambleAware saw 8,800 clients – a fraction of those with a problem. | One of the biggest issues is that problem gamblers are not accessing treatment or people do not know how to get help. Last year, support charity GambleAware saw 8,800 clients – a fraction of those with a problem. |
| Dr Jane Rigbye, director of commissioning at the charity, says more resources need to go into raising awareness of the addiction: “Although the impacts are as detrimental to family life, development and health, the kudos it’s given by other professionals isn’t as high as other addictions, partly because there’s no clear pathway for treating someone with a gambling problem.” | Dr Jane Rigbye, director of commissioning at the charity, says more resources need to go into raising awareness of the addiction: “Although the impacts are as detrimental to family life, development and health, the kudos it’s given by other professionals isn’t as high as other addictions, partly because there’s no clear pathway for treating someone with a gambling problem.” |
| One solution is to empower healthcare professionals and have more conversations with them. “They have the skills to deal with this,” Rigbye says. “They just need to have some awareness of where to push people for help.” | One solution is to empower healthcare professionals and have more conversations with them. “They have the skills to deal with this,” Rigbye says. “They just need to have some awareness of where to push people for help.” |
| I’d lose everything by 11am. It was hard for me to accept the loss | I’d lose everything by 11am. It was hard for me to accept the loss |
| Owen Baily, 34, from Oxfordshire, has learned how to manage his gambling addiction after attending a cognitive behaviour therapy course run by the National Problem Gambling Clinic. | Owen Baily, 34, from Oxfordshire, has learned how to manage his gambling addiction after attending a cognitive behaviour therapy course run by the National Problem Gambling Clinic. |
| I was in receipt of benefits for a long time. In the lead up to the day I got my money, I tried to convince myself that I wouldn’t gamble. As soon as I woke up, my thinking changed – I’d become consumed by gambling. I couldn’t think about anything else. I became tense and anxious. It was like the money was burning a hole in my pocket. I tried to resist, but I couldn’t. | I was in receipt of benefits for a long time. In the lead up to the day I got my money, I tried to convince myself that I wouldn’t gamble. As soon as I woke up, my thinking changed – I’d become consumed by gambling. I couldn’t think about anything else. I became tense and anxious. It was like the money was burning a hole in my pocket. I tried to resist, but I couldn’t. |
| I didn’t have breakfast. I was filled with anticipation, tension and anxiety. I became convinced that I could win some money. I dismissed all my past experiences that proved gambling was not a good idea. My mind focused on positive possible outcomes. I was in the bookies as soon as the doors opened. I was oblivious to anyone and anything. It was just me and the terminal. | I didn’t have breakfast. I was filled with anticipation, tension and anxiety. I became convinced that I could win some money. I dismissed all my past experiences that proved gambling was not a good idea. My mind focused on positive possible outcomes. I was in the bookies as soon as the doors opened. I was oblivious to anyone and anything. It was just me and the terminal. |
| I’d often lose everything by 11am. It was very hard for me to accept the loss, bearing in mind that I had another 13 days until I got paid again. I’d curse myself and go into a period of depression for 10 or 11 days. It was like I had just assaulted myself. My brain hurt. I felt frustrated and annoyed with myself. | I’d often lose everything by 11am. It was very hard for me to accept the loss, bearing in mind that I had another 13 days until I got paid again. I’d curse myself and go into a period of depression for 10 or 11 days. It was like I had just assaulted myself. My brain hurt. I felt frustrated and annoyed with myself. |
| I would go home and wallow in self-pity and make plans for how I was going to survive. I’d check phone boxes for money, wait outside clubs on a weekend night because I knew that’s when people dropped things, and look for loose change on the streets, so I could buy baked beans and bread. | I would go home and wallow in self-pity and make plans for how I was going to survive. I’d check phone boxes for money, wait outside clubs on a weekend night because I knew that’s when people dropped things, and look for loose change on the streets, so I could buy baked beans and bread. |
| I’ve used drugs – crack cocaine, amphetamines – but the high I experienced when I won big at gambling surpassed anything else. It’s very potent, very toxic, very powerful. | I’ve used drugs – crack cocaine, amphetamines – but the high I experienced when I won big at gambling surpassed anything else. It’s very potent, very toxic, very powerful. |
| Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views. | Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views. |
| If you’re looking for a healthcare job or need to recruit staff, visit Guardian Jobs. | If you’re looking for a healthcare job or need to recruit staff, visit Guardian Jobs. |
| Healthcare Network | Healthcare Network |
| Mental health | Mental health |
| (Society) | (Society) |
| Health | Health |
| Gambling | Gambling |
| NHS | NHS |
| Workforce | Workforce |
| features | features |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |