Gambling and Mental Health: Understanding the Connection

If you need help now

If you are in crisis, feel unable to keep yourself safe, or are thinking about suicide, please contact your local emergency services immediately. If you are worried about someone else, do the same. You do not have to be certain that it is an emergency; it is always right to reach out. Our help directory also lists gambling helplines by country, many of which can support you to access urgent help.

A two-way relationship

Gambling and mental health are closely intertwined. Studies across many countries find that people experiencing gambling harm are more likely than the general population to also experience:

• depression and low mood;
• anxiety and stress-related problems;
• alcohol or drug problems;
• attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• sleep difficulties.

The relationship runs in both directions. Some people gamble as a way of coping with difficult feelings. Others develop mental health problems as a result of gambling — the losses, debt, secrecy, conflict and shame. For many, both are true at once, and each makes the other worse.

The escape cycle

A common pattern looks like this:

1. Feeling stressed, low, anxious, bored or lonely.
2. Gambling to escape, numb feelings or feel excitement.
3. Short-term relief or distraction.
4. Losses, guilt and new problems such as debt or arguments.
5. Feeling worse than before — and the urge to escape again.

Gambling products that are fast and continuous, such as online slots, are particularly good at providing an absorbing “zone” where worries temporarily disappear. That is part of what makes them hard to stop.

Breaking the cycle involves finding other ways to manage difficult feelings, not only removing gambling. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which has the strongest evidence base for gambling problems, works directly on this link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

Gambling and suicide risk

It is important to say this plainly and calmly: research consistently finds that people experiencing gambling harm have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than the general population. Financial crisis, hidden debts, shame, relationship breakdown and co-occurring depression can all contribute.

This is not inevitable, and help works. Warning signs that someone may be at risk include talking about being a burden or having no way out, withdrawing from people, giving away possessions, or a sudden calm after a period of distress. If you notice these signs in yourself or someone else, contact emergency services or a crisis line immediately. Asking someone directly whether they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head; it can be a relief to be asked.

Shame and stigma

Shame is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. People often feel they should have been able to stop, or fear being judged. But gambling disorder is a recognised health condition (see gambling disorder explained), and gambling products are designed to be compelling. Speaking about it — to a helpline, a doctor, a peer group or someone you trust — usually reduces shame rather than increasing it.

Looking after your mental health

Immediate steps

• Reduce access to gambling so you are not fighting urges every hour. Use self-exclusion, blocking software and a bank gambling block.
• Tell one person what is going on.
• Write down your debts so they become a finite list rather than an overwhelming cloud. Free debt advice can help you plan; see managing money after gambling harm.

Day-to-day habits

• Protect your sleep: regular times, and phones out of the bedroom.
• Move your body daily, even briefly.
• Limit alcohol and other substances, which reduce self-control and worsen mood.
• Reconnect with people and activities you used to enjoy.
• Use a simple routine to structure the times you used to gamble.

Professional support

• Your GP or family doctor can assess your mood, discuss treatment and refer you.
• Specialist gambling services offer CBT, counselling and sometimes residential treatment. See treatment options for gambling problems.
• Peer support such as Gamblers Anonymous provides connection with people who understand from experience.

Many services can treat gambling and mental health problems together, which tends to work better than addressing either in isolation.

A short safety plan

Some people find it helpful to write a brief plan for difficult moments, ideally with a professional or someone they trust. It might include:

1. The warning signs that tell you things are getting harder, such as sleeplessness, withdrawal or a big loss.
2. Things you can do on your own to get through the next hour.
3. People and places that help you feel calmer.
4. Who you will contact for help, with their numbers saved in your phone.
5. Steps to make your environment safer, including removing access to gambling.
6. Emergency services and crisis contacts, to use without hesitation if you feel unsafe.

Checking in with yourself

Self-tests such as the PGSI or the DSM-5 checklist can help you reflect on how gambling is affecting you. They are not diagnoses and do not measure mental health. If your mood has been low for a couple of weeks or more, or you are struggling to cope, please talk to a professional.

For family and friends

If someone you care about is struggling, gently ask how they are, listen without judgement and encourage them to seek support. If you believe they are at immediate risk, contact emergency services. Our guide on how to talk to someone about their gambling may help.

This page is general information, not medical advice. A qualified professional can give guidance specific to your situation.