Supporting Women Harmed by Gambling
Abstract
Conducted over two years, using qualitative methods, this research examined women’s experiences of seeking support for disordered gambling, including their reluctance to approach services due to shame and stigma. The research found a wide array of support services, but that referral and signposting procedures are poor, meaning that women have to become researchers, responsible for finding their own support through trial and error, and often reaching crisis point in the process. Services rarely explicitly acknowledge the differences in the gambling harms experienced by women and men, and so the specific and complex needs of women may go unmet. The research also explored the ways in which peer support groups can work to assist the recoveries of people affected by gambling harms, and why and how these groups are particularly effective for women. Often considered secondary to clinical support, peer support was described as a game-changer by many people, providing them with a safe, non-judgemental space, real understanding, hope and a sense of accountability. Women-only peer support groups were particularly valuable to women who found mixed-sex but male-dominated support groups intimidating and isolating. The growth in disordered gambling by women means services need to improve how they reach and support women.
Supporting Women Harmed by Gambling
Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV
Conducted over two years, using qualitative methods, this research examined women’s experiences of seeking support for disordered gambling, including their reluctance to approach services due to shame and stigma. The research found a wide array of support services, but that referral and signposting procedures are poor, meaning that women have to become researchers, responsible for finding their own support through trial and error, and often reaching crisis point in the process. Services rarely explicitly acknowledge the differences in the gambling harms experienced by women and men, and so the specific and complex needs of women may go unmet. The research also explored the ways in which peer support groups can work to assist the recoveries of people affected by gambling harms, and why and how these groups are particularly effective for women. Often considered secondary to clinical support, peer support was described as a game-changer by many people, providing them with a safe, non-judgemental space, real understanding, hope and a sense of accountability. Women-only peer support groups were particularly valuable to women who found mixed-sex but male-dominated support groups intimidating and isolating. The growth in disordered gambling by women means services need to improve how they reach and support women.