Reducing Gambling Harm for Young People: An Educational Approach
Tracks
Norfolk Hall
| Monday, March 20, 2023 |
| 1:35 PM - 1:55 PM |
Overview
Mark Riddiford & Dr Aino Suomi, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
Speaker
Mark Riddiford
Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
Reducing Gambling Harm for Young People: An Educational Approach
Abstract
Gambling harm and mental health issues go hand in hand. Half of all people impacted by the most severe gambling harms also experience anxiety and depression and more than 25% exhibit signs of antisocial personality disorder and have considered suicide in the past year.
Recent research shows that almost half a million children in Australia are exposed to some level of harm as a result of parental gambling, with 60,000 of those growing up in households that experience the most severe harms. Research also tells us that children of people experiencing severe harm are 10 times more likely to follow in their parent’s footsteps. The recently published Australia National University study, Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble, highlights the need for better service integration to support children who grow up in families where gambling harm is present and the need for more consistency when assessing and treating children of gamblers.
With one in three Victorian students having gambled and, in particular, older students and males more likely to have gambled the risk of experiencing harm and comorbid mental health issues is high.
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Be Ahead of the Game, School Education program takes a public health approach to address a key issue currently faced by young people in Australia, but also attempts to influence their future decision-making and wellbeing. The increased availability and opportunities to engage in interactive gambling puts children and young people at increased risk of harm.
The School Education program is a free initiative delivered in schools (Year levels 7-12) and other youth settings across Victoria. It is delivered by Community Educators (CE) through partner agencies that already deliver Gambler’s Help activities.
As part of the program it offers the following:
• free face-to-face and online information sessions for teachers, parents and students
• units of work to incorporate in teacher curriculum plans across a variety of subject areas
• useful resources and information for parents and teachers
This presentation will outline the Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble study, links between gambling and mental ill health and the development, delivery and outcomes of the program and will be of particular interest to those working in public health, education and mental health prevention.
Recent research shows that almost half a million children in Australia are exposed to some level of harm as a result of parental gambling, with 60,000 of those growing up in households that experience the most severe harms. Research also tells us that children of people experiencing severe harm are 10 times more likely to follow in their parent’s footsteps. The recently published Australia National University study, Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble, highlights the need for better service integration to support children who grow up in families where gambling harm is present and the need for more consistency when assessing and treating children of gamblers.
With one in three Victorian students having gambled and, in particular, older students and males more likely to have gambled the risk of experiencing harm and comorbid mental health issues is high.
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Be Ahead of the Game, School Education program takes a public health approach to address a key issue currently faced by young people in Australia, but also attempts to influence their future decision-making and wellbeing. The increased availability and opportunities to engage in interactive gambling puts children and young people at increased risk of harm.
The School Education program is a free initiative delivered in schools (Year levels 7-12) and other youth settings across Victoria. It is delivered by Community Educators (CE) through partner agencies that already deliver Gambler’s Help activities.
As part of the program it offers the following:
• free face-to-face and online information sessions for teachers, parents and students
• units of work to incorporate in teacher curriculum plans across a variety of subject areas
• useful resources and information for parents and teachers
This presentation will outline the Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble study, links between gambling and mental ill health and the development, delivery and outcomes of the program and will be of particular interest to those working in public health, education and mental health prevention.
Biography
Mark Riddiford (BEd) is the Senior Prevention Advisor – Education at the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. He is an educator with over three decades of experience in varying teaching, curriculum and educational leadership roles including producing numerous curriculum aligned teacher resources, programs and support materials for parents and students.
Aino Suomi
Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
Reducing Gambling Harm for Young People: An Educational Approach
Abstract
Gambling harm and mental health issues go hand in hand. Half of all people impacted by the most severe gambling harms also experience anxiety and depression and more than 25% exhibit signs of antisocial personality disorder and have considered suicide in the past year.
Recent research shows that almost half a million children in Australia are exposed to some level of harm as a result of parental gambling, with 60,000 of those growing up in households that experience the most severe harms. Research also tells us that children of people experiencing severe harm are 10 times more likely to follow in their parent’s footsteps. The recently published Australia National University study, Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble, highlights the need for better service integration to support children who grow up in families where gambling harm is present and the need for more consistency when assessing and treating children of gamblers.
With one in three Victorian students having gambled and, in particular, older students and males more likely to have gambled the risk of experiencing harm and comorbid mental health issues is high.
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Be Ahead of the Game, School Education program takes a public health approach to address a key issue currently faced by young people in Australia, but also attempts to influence their future decision-making and wellbeing. The increased availability and opportunities to engage in interactive gambling puts children and young people at increased risk of harm.
The School Education program is a free initiative delivered in schools (Year levels 7-12) and other youth settings across Victoria. It is delivered by Community Educators (CE) through partner agencies that already deliver Gambler’s Help activities.
As part of the program it offers the following:
• free face-to-face and online information sessions for teachers, parents and students
• units of work to incorporate in teacher curriculum plans across a variety of subject areas
• useful resources and information for parents and teachers
This presentation will outline the Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble study, links between gambling and mental ill health and the development, delivery and outcomes of the program and will be of particular interest to those working in public health, education and mental health prevention.
Recent research shows that almost half a million children in Australia are exposed to some level of harm as a result of parental gambling, with 60,000 of those growing up in households that experience the most severe harms. Research also tells us that children of people experiencing severe harm are 10 times more likely to follow in their parent’s footsteps. The recently published Australia National University study, Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble, highlights the need for better service integration to support children who grow up in families where gambling harm is present and the need for more consistency when assessing and treating children of gamblers.
With one in three Victorian students having gambled and, in particular, older students and males more likely to have gambled the risk of experiencing harm and comorbid mental health issues is high.
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Be Ahead of the Game, School Education program takes a public health approach to address a key issue currently faced by young people in Australia, but also attempts to influence their future decision-making and wellbeing. The increased availability and opportunities to engage in interactive gambling puts children and young people at increased risk of harm.
The School Education program is a free initiative delivered in schools (Year levels 7-12) and other youth settings across Victoria. It is delivered by Community Educators (CE) through partner agencies that already deliver Gambler’s Help activities.
As part of the program it offers the following:
• free face-to-face and online information sessions for teachers, parents and students
• units of work to incorporate in teacher curriculum plans across a variety of subject areas
• useful resources and information for parents and teachers
This presentation will outline the Gambling harm experienced by children of parents who gamble study, links between gambling and mental ill health and the development, delivery and outcomes of the program and will be of particular interest to those working in public health, education and mental health prevention.
Biography
Dr Aino Suomi (PhD in Psychology; MPsych) is the Director of the Centre for Gambling Research at the Australian National University. She is a public health researcher and clinically trained psychologist with a specific focus on child and family wellbeing in the context of gambling harm.
