Veterans and Drawback Playing: What’s the Connection?
Posted by Emily Bench.
With tomorrow being Independence Day, now’s a time when individuals typically pause to have a good time our freedom and honor the lively navy and veterans who’ve served to guard it. With veterans being twice as more likely to develop an issue with playing in comparison with civilians, as we speak can also be time to focus on this drawback and supply assets and help to those that would possibly want help.
Analysis has proven that veterans have an elevated threat of growing an issue with playing for just a few causes. Many navy bases present loads of alternatives to gamble, whether or not it’s card video games with others, shopping for scratch-off tickets, and even taking part in the onsite slot machines.
As well as, when navy members reside on base, they’ll typically expertise lengthy durations of boredom or stress, and playing can supply an escape, offering one other alternative for an issue with playing to develop.
As soon as service members return residence, both as veterans or on non-active obligation, they is likely to be processing some traumatic experiences and navigating the feelings that include them. For this reason veterans are additionally extra more likely to wrestle with different psychological well being points reminiscent of post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD), despair, and nervousness.
The stats:
• Veterans with PTSD are as much as 60% extra more likely to be at-risk with drawback playing
• Despair amongst veterans who’ve been recognized with disordered playing is as excessive as 76%
• Of veterans who use veteran therapy providers, as much as 10% at-risk with drawback playing
• Amongst veterans in search of therapy, those that have reported trying suicide is as excessive as 40%
Veterans like Josh perceive how playing can take over an individual’s life. He struggled with it for years earlier than deciding he was “sick and bored with being sick and drained.” He lastly reached some extent the place he reached out to get assist by way of the Drawback Playing Helpline and now has over 5 years in restoration.
Watch the video beneath to listen to Josh’s story. https://vimeo.com/709559870
The educated and understanding operators on the fully confidential Drawback Playing Helpline can be found to reply calls from the veteran and lively navy neighborhood and anybody else questioning about their playing behaviors or these of somebody they know. Name the free, 24/7 Drawback Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or textual content 4HOPE to 741741.
The Nationwide Council on Drawback Playing’s on-line prevention instrument, OperationResponsibleGambling.org, additionally supplies assets for veterans and lively navy members.
Moreover, Earlier than You Guess has assembled a veteran toolkit of assets to boost consciousness about drawback playing and promote accountable playing behaviors. These assets, which embrace posters, handouts, and social media posts, can be utilized by any neighborhood group.
