Gambling is one of the common risk factors associated with suicide, along with physical illness, financial difficulty, alcohol and drug misuse, social isolation, and domestic abuse.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published the cross-government Suicide Prevention Strategy, which aims to address these areas and provide early intervention and tailored support from 2023 to 2028.
The strategy aims to reduce the suicide rate over the next five years with initial reductions observed within half this time or sooner. It also prioritizes improving support for people who have self-harmed and for people bereaved by suicide.
The previous suicide prevention strategy was published over a decade ago. The new plan includes over 100 actions to reduce suicides in England.
In 2021, there were 5,583 suicides in England and Wales, with three-quarters being men. While the current suicide rate is not significantly higher than in 2012, it is not falling.
The report highlights the increasing evidence of the relationship between harmful gambling and suicide, especially among younger people. It states that gambling can be a dominant factor leading to suicide, and action needs to be taken to address the harms of gambling and reach people at risk.
The document outlines several actions related to harmful gambling, including the early opening of 15 specialist gambling treatment clinics by September 2023. The government’s white paper on gambling, published in April 2023, commits to consulting on potential changes to make gambling products “safer by design” to reduce harm.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the culture and health departments, and the Gambling Commission are working together to strengthen informational messaging on gambling risks.
In 2023, the DCMS will consult on the design and scope of a statutory levy paid by gambling operators to fund research, education, and treatment of gambling harms. This will provide further opportunities to address the issue.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing clinical guidelines to support the identification, assessment, and management of harmful gambling. These guidelines are expected to be published in spring 2024. The Royal College of Psychiatrists will also develop a continuous professional development resource to improve professionals’ understanding of harmful gambling.
The strategy acknowledges the emerging concerns related to the internet’s safety for children, young people, and adults. It also recognizes the links between harmful gambling, domestic abuse, and suicide.
The strategy was informed by the mental health call for evidence launched in 2022 to identify priority groups, suicide risk factors, and necessary steps to be taken.
Will Prochaska, the strategy director of Gambling with Lives, highlights that the government’s suicide prevention plan recognizes the lethal consequences of gambling. The planned reforms of gambling regulation should be seen as suicide prevention measures, with the Department of Health and Social Care taking on a greater leadership role.
