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Problem gambling and suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm in England: evidence from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007

Author: H. Wardle, S.Dymond, A. John & S.McManus Published: May 2019
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Summary

This report, commissioned by GambleAware, examines the relationship between problem gambling and suicidal thoughts/attempts in England, using data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.

Topics covered

  • prevalence of problem gambling and suicidal thoughts/attempts
  • characteristics associated with problem gambling and suicidality
  • relationship between problem gambling and suicidal behaviours
  • factors mediating this relationship

Key findings

Problem gamblers had significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts compared to the general population, even after accounting for other factors like mental health. About 5% of those who attempted suicide in the past year were problem gamblers.
The findings suggest problem gamblers should be considered a high-risk group for suicide prevention efforts.

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