Improving the Odds for Living: Identifying Potential Intervention Points Among Individuals Seeking Treatment for Problem Gambling

Session Title

Poster session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Start Date

27-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

The link between problem gambling and elevated suicide risk has been well-established. Severity of problematic gambling, psychiatric comorbidity, gambling-related losses, and suicidogenic processes such as perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, and acquired capability have been associated with heightened suicide risk. These findings underscore the need to examine psychological and interpersonal consequences of gambling beyond financial hardship, including threats to interpersonal losses, self-worth, identity, agency, hope, burdensomeness, and shame. Research suggests many individuals with problem gambling delay help-seeking and enter treatment after experiencing substantial losses. Despite this, little work has examined differences among treatment seekers who present with similar circumstances yet differing levels of suicide vulnerability. Guided by Fluid Vulnerability Theory, which conceptualizes suicide risk as dynamic and fluctuating over brief periods with varying thresholds for risk activation, the present study examines associations between problem gambling behaviors and suicidality in over 230 individuals presenting to an outpatient treatment program for gambling problems. Further, the study explores patterns of similarity and difference between individuals with and without elevated latent suicide risk, with the aim of informing a more precise conceptualization of suicide risk and identifying potential points for clinical intervention.

Author Bios

I'm a clinical psychology PhD student at The University of Memphis. My research focuses on suicide risk and psychological processes in the context of trauma, sudden loss, and other adverse life events. I am particularly interested in examining psychological processes and identifying intervention targets that may inform prevention and treatment efforts within a dynamic-systems informed framework.

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May 27th, 12:00 AM

Improving the Odds for Living: Identifying Potential Intervention Points Among Individuals Seeking Treatment for Problem Gambling

The link between problem gambling and elevated suicide risk has been well-established. Severity of problematic gambling, psychiatric comorbidity, gambling-related losses, and suicidogenic processes such as perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, and acquired capability have been associated with heightened suicide risk. These findings underscore the need to examine psychological and interpersonal consequences of gambling beyond financial hardship, including threats to interpersonal losses, self-worth, identity, agency, hope, burdensomeness, and shame. Research suggests many individuals with problem gambling delay help-seeking and enter treatment after experiencing substantial losses. Despite this, little work has examined differences among treatment seekers who present with similar circumstances yet differing levels of suicide vulnerability. Guided by Fluid Vulnerability Theory, which conceptualizes suicide risk as dynamic and fluctuating over brief periods with varying thresholds for risk activation, the present study examines associations between problem gambling behaviors and suicidality in over 230 individuals presenting to an outpatient treatment program for gambling problems. Further, the study explores patterns of similarity and difference between individuals with and without elevated latent suicide risk, with the aim of informing a more precise conceptualization of suicide risk and identifying potential points for clinical intervention.