Good to Talk · Life gets bloody hard · Free. Always.
When gambling stops being entertainment
If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E. If you need urgent mental-health help but it is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental-health option.
The damage is not only the money. Secrecy, chasing losses, shame, relationship strain and feeling trapped can hit mental health hard.
Look for loss of control
Borrowing to gamble, hiding it, chasing losses, gambling money needed elsewhere or repeatedly failing to stop are signs to take seriously.
Make access harder while you get help
Practical barriers such as gambling blocks and self-exclusion can help create breathing room. Specialist gambling support can address both behaviour and the harm around it.
Financial crisis can become emotional crisis
If gambling losses leave you feeling hopeless or suicidal, get urgent mental-health help. The financial problem can be worked on; your immediate safety comes first.
You're not the only one
Sources & further reading
- NHS Every Mind Matters — life's challenges
- NHS Every Mind Matters — mental wellbeing tips
- NHS — mental health
Educational information, not a diagnosis. Where a problem involves money, gambling, alcohol, abuse, bereavement or another specialist issue, use an appropriate specialist service as well as mental-health support where needed.