Results from a cross-sectional online survey of young adults between the ages of 16-24 suggests that both men and women are at increased risk of suicidality if they engage in problem gambling.
By Mr Shamim Quadir (Senior Communications Officer), Published
Results from a cross-sectional online survey of young adults between the ages of 16-24 suggests that both men and women are at increased risk of suicidality if they engage in problem gambling.
Suicide is a leading cause of death of young adults worldwide. Research also suggests that the suicide rate has increased for young adults in recent years, despite the prevalence of factors such as alcohol and drug misuse decreasing.
Explanations suggested for the increase in suicide rate in this age group include the role of social media, online bullying, exam and lifestyle stress, and increasing insecurity among young people. However, other factors are probably also involved, and might be further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Problem gambling
Gambling has been neglected as a public health issue. Online gambling is the largest growth sector in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and now accounts for more than one third of the total gambling market. Online betting and gambling are also known to have one of the highest levels of association with problem gambling. Considering the shifts in risk-taking behaviours among young adults, there has been an urgent need to examine recent data on gambling and suicidality.
This need prompted the undertaking of a new study from academics from City, University of London and University of Glasgow, published in the journal, Lancet Public Health. It investigated whether problem gambling is related to suicidality in young adults aged 16-24, and also looked for any differences between men and women.
In the study, data from the Emerging Adults Gambling Survey (a cross-sectional, online survey of young adults, who were selected from a YouGov online panel) was analysed.
The researchers looked for associations between problem gambling (defined as a score of eight or higher on the ‘Problem Gambling Severity Index’ [PGSI]) and suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in the year before survey completion. This was investigated through a series of statistical models, with and without adjustment for sociodemographic factors, alcohol use, video gaming, anxiety, loneliness, and impulsivity.
The study found that 37% of male respondents (24 out of 62 men) who had attempted suicide in the previous year, had survey scores which were indicative of problem gambling. The comparable figure for those men who had not attempted suicide or had thoughts of suicide in the previous year was 3.6% (38 out of 1077 men).
In female respondents who had attempted suicide in the previous year, 14.5% (13 out of 85 women) had survey scores indicative of a gambling problem. For those female respondents who had not attempted suicide or had thoughts of suicide, the figure was 2% (25 out of 1184 women).
These findings suggest that problem gambling is associated with suicide attempts in both young men and young women. This association persisted after adjusting for alcohol use, video gaming, anxiety, impulsivity, loneliness, life satisfaction, and other factors, which suggests that other mechanisms, such as the severity and multiplicity of harms experienced, or gambling to cope with life stressors, might underpin this relationship.
As such the authors of the study suggest that young people with problem-gambling behaviours should be considered at risk for suicide attempts, and that more research must be undertaken to more fully understand the association in the rapidly changing gambling environment.
The UK gambling regulator has described COVID-19 as accelerating the growth of online gambling. It is against this backdrop that the current study was published in a gambling-focused issue of Lancet Public Health launching a new The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling. Over the coming year, the Commission will be investigating ways to reduce gambling-related harms around the world, and welcomes research submissions aiming to prevent gambling harms.
Commenting on the study, Sally McManus, co-author and Senior Lecturer in Health at the School of Health Sciences, City, University of London said:
Find out more
Read the article, in the journal Lancet Public Health, ‘Suicidality and gambling among young adults in Great Britain: results from a cross-sectional online survey’. Heather Wardle and Sally McManus.
Visit City’s Centre for Mental Health Research webpage.
Getting support
If you're a student at City, and need support, you can get help through the Student Counselling and Mental Health Service.
If you're a member of staff at City, you can access support through the Occupational Health Service.
If you, or someone you know, needs support there are a number of helplines you can call:
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123 - 24 hours a day, every day
Email jo@samaritans.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page – 5pm to midnight every day
Shout 85258 – for everyone
Free, 24/7 mental health text support in the UK
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am – midnight every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included)
Text 07860039967
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19
Call 0800 1111 – the number won't show up on your phone bill
The Silver Line – for older people
Call 0800 4 70 80 90 – 24 hours a day, every day
Anyone can also contact their GP for advice and support.