How to determine the level of gambling harm someone is experiencing
When you know why someone is motivated to gamble it becomes easier to explore the level of gambling harm they are experiencing.
The questions to equate the level of harm will, most commonly, relate to:
Money
Time
Mental health
Money
How much money a person spends on gambling in relation to their income can establish the level of harm gambling is causing them.
Someone may lose £200 and this does not impact them and someone could lose £10 and this is the only money they have for that week.
Potential questions to determine level of harm
- Do you set money limits and not stick to them?
- Do you spend money on gambling that could be spent on essentials such as food, bills or rent?
- Do you gamble in an attempt to pay for food, bills or rent?
- How can we explore your spending together?
- Look at bank statements to find how much you have spent in certain periods of time
- Calculate how much money you have won vs lost and spent
For people with extremely high levels of harm, there may be talk of criminality and antisocial behaviour
Time
How much time someone spending gambling determines their level of harm. If they are spending the majority of their free time gambling then the risk of harm is greater as they may not be engaging in social activities or indulging in hobbies that they enjoy.
Potential questions to determine level of harm
- How much time are you spending in the bookies or online gambling?
- Are you setting time limits for yourself and then gambling outwith this?
- Do you regularly miss events, phone calls or eating as you would rather spend time gambling?
- Do you intend to do a task (housework, read a book, watch a TV show) and find yourself gambling instead?
- How can we explore how much time is being spent on gambling together?
- Look at your online apps to find out how much time is being spent on them
- Set a timer when you go into the bookies, bingo or start using a puggie and stop it when you leave
- Count how many times you go to a gambling premises in a specific space of time (this could be a day or a week)
Mental Health
Gambling harm and mental health are intertwined. People could gamble to dissociate from feeling or in an attempt to make them feel better. When the brain releases dopamine people feel good in the moment but it can result in larger lows afterwards.
Potential questions to determine level of harm
- How do you feel when you start gambling?
- How do you feel when you are gambling?
- How do you feel after you have finished gambling?
- How can we explore your mental health in relation to gambling together?
- Before and after you gamble, write one word or phrase to describe how you feel.
Everyone has their own unique experience of gambling harm. There is no form or scoring system that dictates the level of gambling harm someone is experiencing.
As a professional, the best way to approach this is to have a conversation with the person you are supporting and discuss their behaviours and mental health in regards to gambling. From their answers and stories surrounding the questions you have asked them about money, time and mental health, you will be able to look at The Gambling Harm Spectrum together to determine their level of gambling harm.
3 in 4 people experiencing difficulties with their gambling feel they can’t talk to loved ones about it, and stigma is the biggest barrier stopping people from reaching out.