More calls made to gambling helpline

This post came out from The Straits Times (14 May 2014)

Many more people are calling the National Problem Gambling Helpline, underlining increased public awareness and willingness to seek help, say counsellors. The 24 hour service has been handling about 21,000 calls annually for the past three years, a four fold increase from 2009 when it was first set up.

Counsellors say the rising volume of helpline calls shows that those affected by gambling are more willing to seek help as the stigma of gambling addiction wanes. It also reflects greater awareness of avenues of help after public education campaigns.

"Gambling is often a hidden addiction which becomes known only when things get serious," said Ms Tham Yuen Han, executive director of We Care Community Services which helps gambling addicts. It also treats other types of addictions. Its centre has started offering support group sessions daily, instead of just five days a week, as more gamblers go to it for support.

Slightly more than half of the helpline callers are Singaporeans. While 60 per cent of the calls sough general information on gambling related issues, the proportion of calls from gamblers or family members requesting help has risen to 40 per cent over the past two years, from 30 per cent between 2009 and 2011.

These gamblers or their family members and friends would call in to ask about or apply for casino exclusion orders. Counsellors forsee a rise in helpline calls after last week's announcement that people can also apply for self exclusion from non casino gambling venues or remote betting services by Singapore Pools or Singapore Turf Club.

"People will call to find out more because online gambling or jackpot machines at clubs are popular and this is worrying," said Mr Billy Lee, counsellor at Gamblers Recovery Centre. The centre also runs a helpline which gets about 30 calls a month. "The helpline is the first step for us to connect with gamblers, and subsequently many are open to coming for counselling or support group sessions," he added.

Helplines
National council on problem gambling - 1800 666 8668
THK Problem gambling recovery centre - 6576 0840
Gamblers recovery centre - 8428 6377
One hope centre - 6547 1011

Thoughts:

1. While an old piece of news, gambling is something that has been ongoing for many years since ancient time. In Singapore, the situation was even more precarious due to the set up of integrated resorts to help boost the economy with tourism/ entertainment dollars. The government has tried to remedy some of these side effects through such policies, but one deeper thought is on the balance between pursuing economic goals and dealing with changes in social values and problems. Not easy for the government to please everyone! But with the rise of online gambling, I do think that the society can also now better appreciate the usefulness of these helpline. 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big