How Problem Gambling Awareness Fits Into National Men’s Health Month

June 30, 2021

June is also National Men’s Health Month, and perfect timing for a reminder to encourage the man or men in your life to take care of their bodies by eating right, getting sufficient sleep, engaging in exercise, and working to prevent disease. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten awareness regarding preventable health conditions and seeking early detection and treatment of diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and depression. The official symbol for the month is a blue ribbon as a gentle reminder of its importance. So, planning activities and outings with these points in mind can be both helpful and enjoyable.  While gambling addiction is becoming more…read more

It’s PTSD Awareness Month: Here’s Why Problem Gambling Should Be Part of the Conversation

June 29, 2021

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that some people develop after witnessing or experiencing a life-threatening event, such as military combat, a national disaster, a car accident, violence or abuse, a major injury, or some other traumatic incident. June is PTSD Awareness Month in the United States, and it is important to openly discuss it, because similar to compulsive gamblers, persons struggling from the effects of PTSD frequently suffer in silence since their wounds are not frequently visible, and they too do not generally seek the necessary assistance. Among the general U.S. population, each year, there are an estimated 8 million adults who have PTSD, and…read more

Embracing Forgiveness Can Positively Change Your Life

June 25, 2021

Health studies show that people who are willing to forgive themselves and others are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments. It can often be difficult for problem gamblers to ask for forgiveness because they do not feel worthy of it, experience deep levels of shame, regret, and sadness caused by their actions, offenses, or flaws that caused the anger or resentment in themselves and in others. At the same time, it can be equally challenging for loved ones to be receptive to the concept of forgiveness. However, it is imperative to embrace forgiveness, even when one or others do not feel it is worthy. Otherwise, it can hold…read more

For National Senior Health and Fitness Day, Learn How Problem Gambling Can Affect Older Adults

May 26, 2021

Though gambling addiction is serious for anyone affected, different factors come into play for older adults. Retirees have plenty of leisure time on hand, and unfortunately, those who have a problem with gambling will see this as an opportunity to spend even more time and money at casinos or on other types of gambling, worsening what might already be a serious problem. Others may try gambling for the first time and develop an unhealthy relationship right from the start, leading to a downward spiral.. Major changes in life can drive older adults to spend too much time and money on gambling; older people tend to be “vulnerable to gambling-related problems…read more

Problem Gambling Awareness Matters, Even in the Workplace: Global Employee Health and Fitness Month

May 25, 2021

The month of May is recognized as Global Employee Health & Fitness Month (GEHFM), an annual awareness event which aims to “promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to employers and their employees through worksite health promotion activities and environments” [1]. Problem gambling can affect anyone from any age, gender, background, or ethnicity. The issues that stem from problem gambling can disrupt all areas of life, including one’s career, with direct impacts on the workplace too. Did you know that each case of gambling addiction affects an average of 8-10 people beyond the gambler? Loved ones such as family and friends often feel the most direct impacts, but employers and…read more

Why Mental Health Awareness Month Must Include Recognition of Gambling Disorder

May 19, 2021

Problem gambling was first classified as a psychiatric disorder in 1980[1]. Currently, gambling disorder is classified in the DSM-V as a behavioral addiction characterized by the inability to stop gambling. Those who suffer from gambling disorder experience a wide range of severe life impacts, including significant levels of debt; relationship problems; illegal acts to fund continued gambling; legal consequences like foreclosure, eviction, and divorce; and homelessness. Not surprisingly, mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation and attempts often accompany problem gambling due to the immense pressure placed on the individual and those closest to them. That’s why it’s imperative that we take time to recognize gambling addiction…read more

For National Financial Literacy Month, Let’s Talk About the Crippling Debt That Can Result from Problem Gambling

April 21, 2021

It is no secret that problem gambling can lead to financial problems. According to Debt.org, 85% of adults in the United States have gambled at least once in their life, and some 23 million Americans go into debt because of gambling. [1] Those suffering from a gambling addiction have become desensitized to taking financial risks and continue to wager without considering the far-reaching consequences in order to stay “in the action” or to escape other problems. Because of this, the gambler’s family is often at the mercy of their addiction.  Over the past year, half (50%) of those contacting Florida’s 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine reported there were household gambling related…read more

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and a Good Time to Recognize the Domestic Impacts Problem Gambling Can Have

April 19, 2021

Did you know that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month? The COVID-19 pandemic has, among its long list of detrimental effects, increased the rate of domestic partner violence. Police departments from around the country noted upticks in domestic violence incidents following the start of the pandemic. [1] Not only that, but the health crisis also exacerbated the severity of family violence according to Jacky Mulveen, project manager of Women’s Empowerment and Recovery Educators: “It gives [the abuser] more tools, more chances to control you. The abuser says, ‘You can’t go out; you’re not going anywhere,’ and the government also is saying, ‘You have to stay in.’” [2] There are also…read more

How Money Smart Week Factors Into Problem Gambling Prevention

April 8, 2021

Money Smart Week is an annual awareness event designed to raise financial literacy, which, when paired with an understanding of what constitutes gambling, can help prevent the development of gambling addiction. Financial literacy is described as the education and knowledge of how money can be earned, saved, spent, and invested properly.  According to data compiled from the FCCG’s 24-hour HelpLine, in 2019-2020, a large percentage of problem gamblers are reported to have difficulty paying household bills (67%), have gambled and lost their savings (65%), and have even sold or pawned possessions to get money to continue gambling (50%, reflecting a 7% increase from the prior year’s data). The average amount…read more

The Goals of Women’s History Month and Problem Gambling Awareness Month Go Beyond March

March 29, 2021

Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) and Women’s History Month both happen in March, but that doesn’t mean the importance of these recognitions end there. It is always in our best interests to honor the contributions of women to history, culture, and society and likewise, to identify and raise awareness about the impacts that gambling addiction has upon individuals and families. In educating those affected about the services and supports available for problem gambling, such as treatment referrals, self-exclusion resources, financial and legal supports, literature, and others, we have to first understand how problem gambling affects people in different ways. For instance, prior-year 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine data shows that female problem gamblers…read more