New | Losing stakes: One in five gambling addicts are suicidal, new report finds
Counselling centre research finds ‘basic issues of sleep and work’ behind problems
About 20 per cent of gambling addicts who sought help at a counselling centre had considered suicide, while 22 also thought of killing their families, a report says.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong found that of the 3,685 people who sought help at the Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counselling Centre between 2003 to 2012, about one in five had thought of attempting suicide and 22 individuals had thought of taking their family members’ lives as well.
“When we look at the reasons behind suicidal thoughts among gamblers, it is easy to overlook the basic issues of sleep and work,” said Paul Wong Wai-ching, social work and social administration assistant professor at the university.
Among the suicidal group, they found that 57 per cent said of gambling addicts suffered insomnia and 43 per cent said they were unmotivated at work. In the non-suicidal group 33 per cent suffered insomnia, while 26 per cent felt unmotivated.
The researchers also found that addicted gamblers usually face multiple problems in life, including emotional and family problems that affect their sleep. A lack of sleep may also lead to impulse behaviour, they said.
The researchers warned gamblers and their families to be aware of these signs which may be point to future bahaviour.