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If you have a friend or family member with a gambling problem, it’s only natural to want to help. The individual, however, may not be ready or willing to admit that they have a problem and may not want to discuss it. For this reason, it’s important to be prepared. Before you approach the person, try to learn what you can about problem gambling, including its warning signs, negative impacts, and options for help and recovery. If possible, speak to someone you can trust about the problem like a counselor, teacher, doctor, or parent; you don’t need to reveal who the gambler is, but you do need to talk about the issue, get some support, and generate a plan of action. Try to gather some evidence of the negative impact of the person’s gambling such as missed bills, absenteeism from work, or deteriorated school performance in case the individual tries to rationalize their actions or deny that they have a problem. If you can, have the contact information of some local counselling services handy in the event that the person agrees they that have a problem and wants help. Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is that you cannot stop someone from gambling. They have to stop gambling themselves once they are ready and willing to change their behavior.
For more information about how to talk to a friend or family member with a gambling problem, please click here. |
