Bridgeways Family Resource Centre in Ballymahon along with Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre in Granard were delighted to welcome Addiction Counsellor and Psychotherapist Tony O’Reilly to the official launch of the Problem Gambling Support Service, supporting County Longford.
Tony O’Reilly is the co-author of the book Tony 10 which highlights the detrimental and challenging effects of problem gambling at home and in our communities.
Tony spent his time in Longford linking in with local Transition Year Students, members of the Longford community and professionals in the mental health service.
Tony spoke of his lived experience and his gambling habits and how they began to change.
He also opened up about his suicidal ideation due to the shame and deep distraction and depression due to his gambling problem.
Suicide rates are highest among problem gamblers than any other addiction.
Evidence shows that another prevalent negative consequence of gambling is financial harm.
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It is recognised that problem gambling can harm the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities and society.
Other harms include: the disruption and breakdown of relationships with partners, family, friends and the broader community; psychological harms including social isolation, shame, stigma; health and wellbeing harms, cultural harms including on one’s’ beliefs and practices; work/study harms; criminality and life course or intergenerational harms and losses.
The ESRI have found that 1 in 30 adults have a problem with gambling in Ireland. A problem gambler is someone facing negative consequences and a loss of control.
The types of gambling that this includes are online casinos, slot machines, scratch cards, lottery tickets, sports bets, bookmakers and taking chances through gaming.
There has been a huge increase in the relationship with gaming and gambling in recent years and is rising.
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Gaming can begin as young as ten years of age and can lead to long term detrimental effects on the development of the young person’s social, emotional and psychological brain.
The Problem Gambling Therapist for County Longford Katie-Anne O`Toole explained, “As a community we should be encouraged to take a look at our own gambling habits, reflect and become curious. Has this destructive habit become normalised in our homes and traditions?”
Katie-Anne continued, “If someone is wondering about their gambling habits they can ask themselves two questions: Is the gambling adding to their lives or is it taking away from their lives?
From here you will begin to see a clear sign if you need to reach out for support.
“Some signs to look out for if you are concerned over another person’s gambling or if you are gambling yourself are being preoccupied by past gambling successes, if you are spending more money than originally intended, if you are using gambling as a way of distraction from everyday stressors, lying and hiding your gambling habits, committing fraud, taking out loans or stealing to fund your gambling habit.
“If this is something that resonates with you or for that of a loved one then please reach out to the problem gambling support service in the FRCs in Ballymahon and Granard.
“The problem gambling service in Longford knows that Tony`s story is not an isolated incident. They recognise the depression, fear and isolation that many problem gamblers are facing as well as the shame that is carried as the financial and relational implications begin to change.
“The Problem Gambling Support Service works with both the problem gambler as well as the concerned other. They are a donation based support that provide one to one counselling, facilitate aftercare support and provide information and create awareness in the community around the detrimental effects of gambling.”
Get in touch with Katie-Anne today through email at gamblingsupport@ bridgewaysfrc.com or by phoning 083-2025899 if you would like some more information, guidance or support.
Also read: Family Resource Centres in Longford provide support for Problem-Gambling