Study suggests changes in gambling behaviour linked to suicide risk in young adults

An increase in difficulties with gambling is linked to a heightened risk of suicide attempts among young adults, according to new research from the University of Glasgow and City, University of London.

Published in the journal, The Lancet Public Health, the study suggests that over the course of a year, young adults (aged 16-24) who experienced an increase in severity of gambling harms were 2.74 times more likely to attempt suicide than those whose gambling was unchanged.

Gambling behaviour is dynamic, and the study found that any escalation in the experience of gambling harms, regardless of someone’s starting point, was linked to a heightened risk of suicidality.

Few studies have examined the relationship between gambling and suicidality, and fewer still have explored this relationship among young adults, despite there being concurrent heightened risk of both suicidality and gambling harms among those aged 16–24 years.

In the study, the responses of 1,941 young adults, surveyed twice over the course of a year (first between June-August 2019 and then between July-October 2020), were analysed to track changes in their gambling and suicide-related behaviours.

Gambling harm was measured with the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score, which is measured from 0 = non gambler up to a maximum 27 points. Over the year, an increase in PGSI score of only one point or more was associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt.

Young adults are likely to have a greater propensity for risk-taking behaviour than older adults, including impulsivity and engaging in sensation-seeking experimentation. Nevertheless, while impulsivity, loneliness, low wellbeing, and anxiousness were found to partially account for the link between suicidality and gambling found in the study, these factors do not explain it in full.

The study authors argue that their findings demonstrate the need to quickly identify those who may be experiencing greater harms from gambling and to intervene. To do this could mean routine and repeated screening is embedded within primary health care, social care, and other relevant public service organisations to allow effective identification and suicide prevention activities among young adults at elevated risk.

There remain important questions about preferred methods for intervening with those deemed to be at risk. While government regulatory bodies require gambling operators to perform risk analyses of customer’s data to identify those at increased risk of gambling harms, how this is subsequently carried out at a customer service level is unclear.

The study recommends that if regulators retain this requirement, all industry staff engaging in customer interactions could be required to have regular, independent, transparent, and robust suicide prevention and intervention training. As a mandatory condition of licensing, this could replicate the approach used in reforms to the financial services sector.

First author of the study, Dr Heather Wardle , said:

Suicide is a leading cause of death among young adults, especially young men. When we speak to people who have experienced severe gambling harms, many describe feeling suicidal. And yet debate continues about whether gambling disorder is a risk factor for suicidality or if this might be better explained by other things, like poor wellbeing. Our study suggests not, finding that any increase in negative experiences due to gambling among young adults can mean a greater risk of suicidality”.

“For anyone feeling like this, help is available – people can and do recover from gambling harms. But more support is needed. Our study adds to a growing evidence base strengthening the argument for gambling to be recognised as risk factor in suicide prevention plans. Gambling harms were referenced in Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2022-2025, but much more needs to happen for this to become embedded in national approaches and policies.

Co-author, Sally McManus, said:

Suicide is complex and many factors come in to play. This study, however, clearly shows that interventions that reduce gambling-related harm may also have real potential to reduce levels of suicidality in society.

"Gambling behaviour is dynamic and needs to be monitored for signs of change. For many of the young people interviewed for this study their harmful gambling behaviours had decreased over time. This shows how recovery and improvement are achievable, especially with the right protections and measures in place. People who are struggling can reach out - day or night - to organisations like the Samaritans. They can be called for free on 116 123 or emailed at [email protected].

Sir Louis Appleby is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manchester and Chair of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group. He said:

This study adds to our understanding of the link between problem gambling and suicide, particularly in young people. We have seen warnings about gambling and tragic personal stories bravely told in public, but inevitably it takes longer to get the high quality evidence we need for prevention. Now that evidence is coming through. It is timely too - the Government has announced a new national suicide prevention strategy and problem gambling is certain to feature.

Get support

For people who may be affected by the content of this article, a list of organisations from which to seek support in the UK:

Help for problems with gambling can be found on the NHS website, including advice and links to support organisations such as GamCare which offers free information, support and counselling for people who have problems with gambling in the UK.

GamCare also runs the National Gambling Helpline – for everyone

Call 0808 8020 133 free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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.