New Research Sheds Light on Mental Health and Teen Gambling
Two pieces of research released by the Victorian Government have provided insight into problem gambling in mental health patients and teenagers.
The two research reports are:
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre's Problem Gambling In People Presenting to a Public Mental Health Service
- Bond University's Australian Teens and Poker: Gambling Prevalence, Influences and Implications
Minister for Gaming, Michael O'Brien said the reports make important inroads into understanding mental health, youth, and problem gambling in Victoria, and will assist in improving services for problem gamblers.
"The findings from these reports give a greater understanding of problem gambling affecting mental health patients and the impact of teens playing poker and the possibility of them developing a problem with gambling in the future," he said.
The Monash report explored problem gambling by screening 290 mental health patients and found 50 of these individuals were problem gamblers.
"The report adds to a body of research that suggests the overall issue of problem gambling may be much higher among mental health patients than the rest of the population," Mr O’Brien said.
Bond University's research examined the issue of gambling in 15-19 year olds with a focus on poker, the attitudes, beliefs and the types of related problems in teenage gamblers.
The report revealed that most teenage respondents played poker infrequently, with over 90 percent playing less than ten times per year.
The most common reasons attributed to teenagers playing poker were identified as leisure activity or to socialise with friends, with financial gain being the least common incentive.
The reports are available in the Research and Statistics section of the Department of Justice website.