Gambling Addicts at High Risk for Suicidal Tendencies

There appears to be a strong relationship between gambling and suicide when addiction is involved. A study by the National Addictions Management Service (Nams), run by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), found that more than one in ten people with a gambling addiction also have suicidal tendencies.

A piece published in the Straights Times highlighted this study done on 350 people treated between 2001 and last year at Nams. The study also identified that many of these gambling addicts also had mental issues in addition to their addictions.

Among those mental issues, a tendency toward suicide ranked the highest. Attempts at suicide among this group were found to be 15 percent. Depression came in at a close second at 12 percent and substance or alcohol use was between three percent and ten percent.

According to Dr. Thomas Lee Kae Meng, deputy chief of IMH’s addiction medicine department, overseas studies have found that suicide rates are higher among gamblers than those who have an alcohol or other substance abuse problem.

This latest study sought to chart the profile of Asian gamblers. Results revealed that the majority of gambling addicts are Chinese males around the age of 40.

“With the integrated resorts coming up, it’s unique for the study to look at this group of people who for the longest time have not been identified to have a problem until they get into trouble,” said Dr. Daniel Fung, a senior consultant psychiatrist at IMH, in the Straights Times.

Counselors weighed in that such tendencies were quite normal for gambling addicts as they often have unsecured or illegal debts and believe they have no way out. The findings of this study could help to prompt treatment centers to inquire about gambling problems to better ascertain why an individual is seeking treatment of any kind.