Within Scotland, individuals are reluctant to seek assistance for gambling issues due to the disgrace linked to it.
An investigation conducted by GambleAware revealed that shame acts as a significant hurdle for Scots seeking support for gambling dependency, both on a personal and societal level.
The research, carried out by Kantar Public, examined the Gambling Support Service (GSS), a collaborative venture between GambleAware and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).
The initiative trains front-line personnel to recognize individuals at risk of or experiencing gambling problems. Training has been delivered to Citizens Advice Bureaux throughout Scotland, as well as to local government employees, law enforcement officers, healthcare professionals, and organizations providing debt counseling, housing, and mental health services.
The assessment concentrated on the initial two years of the project and discovered that the public possesses a restricted comprehension of the seriousness of gambling addiction and that a negative perception is associated with it, which dissuades individuals from seeking help.
To tackle these concerns, the assessment proposed a series of suggestions. These included giving workers more explicit directions on why gambling can be problematic for patrons and how to incorporate topics aimed at spotting harm into discussions.
Kantar Public Affairs also advised looking into flexibility in using topics designed to identify harm to encourage more natural conversations with customers about gambling harm and decrease the stigma associated with it.
Moreover, it was suggested to develop more comprehensive training to address the perceived discomfort of having conversations about gambling-related harm.
The evaluation added that trainees felt that GSS played a “valuable” role in enhancing customer advice on gambling harm and assisting in reducing gambling harm in Scotland, with employees able to provide guidance and point to relevant support organizations.
“We understand that discussions about gambling can be difficult, and training and the resources provided are crucial to prepare frontline staff to have conversations with customers about gambling,” stated Anna Hargrave, Chief Commissioning Officer at GambleAware.
“More explicit guidance and greater adaptability surrounding the issue should assist frontline staff in identifying harm, having sensitive customer interactions, and helping to reduce stigma in the future.”
Derek Mitchell, the head of Citizens Advice Scotland, stated: “The Citizens Advice Scotland network is proud to provide this crucial service, which has had a significant effect by educating over 2,000 professionals to recognize gambling-related issues.
“It’s evident from the feedback we obtain that embarrassment is a major obstacle, which is why the CAB network does not judge anyone’s circumstances or history when they seek assistance, and believes it’s essential to seek support early on.
“The sooner someone receives the help they require, the faster they can address the issue; it’s as straightforward as that. The alternative is to ignore the problem and allow it to escalate until it becomes unmanageable. Individuals should not feel ashamed or apprehensive about seeking help, it’s the initial crucial step in resolving their problem.”
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