Problem Gambling - Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe Visits GamCare At Launch Of OnLine Counselling Service, UK

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 13 Jan 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Gerry Sutcliffe MP visits GamCare's Clapham Junction HQ today to view the range of telephone, online and face to face services the charity offers nationally, free, to problem gamblers. With responsibility for gambling, the Minister is leading the current consultation on the proposed levy on gambling operators to fund treatment and is keen to see how the funds are spent.

Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe says: "GamCare is leading the way in providing support for those with a gambling problem, helping thousands of people since it was founded in 1997. It is great to see the organisation finding new ways to reach out and I want to hear more about the new OnLine Counselling initiative, offering counselling over the internet. I am looking forward to meeting the many staff and counsellors who help run this vitally important charity."

Anthony Jennens, Chairman of GamCare, says "We are delighted to welcome the Minister. This is a valuable opportunity to witness at first hand the range of services we offer, the commitment, professionalism and expertise of our staff, and to gain a better understanding of the enormous importance of what we do for anyone affected by problem gambling."

Head of Clinical Services, Adrian Scarfe, adds "Over the past 11 years, GamCare has developed its services to meet the needs of its callers and clients. Recognising the nature of 'the hidden addiction' and the stigma still, unfortunately, associated with it, together with gambling becoming more accessible to less traditional audiences, we have developed our specialist OnLine Counselling Service. This vital professional and specialist service is delivered free to clients."

GamCare has seen demand for the service and already has had over 30 OnLine clients. As well as meeting a need for those with psychological barriers to accessing face to face counselling, it is also valuable for those with disabilities or phobias. Some clients say they are too ashamed to consider face to face counselling, others appreciate the greater element of control as they can censor themselves and think carefully about finding the right words. The OnLine environment has attracted a higher percentage of women than face to face (over 50% of clients), and the age range of female clients is wider than that of male clients, with more women clients over 50 and more males under 30. However, the level of commitment to attending sessions is comparable to GamCare's traditional face to face counselling and gambling impacts on their relationships, health, finances and mental health every bit as severe.

Callers who express an interest when they contact NetLine or HelpLine advisers are then referred for an initial discussion with a qualified counsellor before being assigned their regular counsellor and session times. GamCare's counselling is integrative and tailored to the individual's needs. Reasons for addiction can be complex: gambling sometimes can offer a means of escape from seemingly intolerable thoughts and feelings. Counsellors employ a range of therapeutic approaches to facilitate discovery of the underlying reasons. Our aim is to stop or effectively manage problem gambling behaviour.

GamCare, established in 1997, is a registered charity and the leading national authority on the provision of counselling, advice and practical help for anyone experiencing or affected by problem gambling. GamCare's immediate, confidential one-to-one national support services, available 8am to midnight, are the telephone HelpLine (365 days of the year) and NetLine (Monday to Friday). We also deliver free face to face counselling at three locations in London, nationally through a network of Partners, and now OnLine. We train our Partners (experienced addictions counsellors) in treating problem gambling and fund them to deliver free face to face support to anyone who needs it.

GamCare is funded indirectly through voluntary contributions from the gambling industry, through the Responsibility in Gambling Trust. Following the failure of RIGT to raise sufficient funds, Government has just launched a consultation into whether funds should be raised by a levy - click here.

According to the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, it is estimated that 0.6% of the UK population (around 300,000 people) are problem gamblers. Considering that each may have a partner, parents and dependents, those affected by problem gambling may number over one million. The Survey, commissioned by the Gambling Commission and prepared and published by the National Centre for Social Research, provides detailed statistics.

GamCare