Treatment seeking among Ontario problem gamblers: results of a population survey
Abstract
Objective This study examined help seeking for gambling concerns among people with different levels of gambling problems.Methods Ontario adults who had gambled more than dollars 100 (N=4,217) and who screened positive for a possible gambling problem (N=1,205) were classified according to gambling problem severity and asked about their experiences with gambling treatment.Results Only 6% of gamblers had ever accessed a service, including a self-help group or self-help materials. With self-help materials excluded, only 3% of gamblers (from 1% of those who met only the initial CLiP screening criteria to 53% of those with pathological gambling) had sought treatment for gambling.Conclusions Few gamblers sought treatment for gambling problems; greater problem severity was associated with greater likelihood of using treatment, with self-help materials used most often. Further research is needed on why treatment seeking is low and on the effectiveness of self-help resources in reaching gamblers with problems in earlier stages.
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Internet-based interventions make it possible to overcome important treatment-seeking barriers, such as stigma, embarrassment, and accessibility.
“Internet-based interventions make it possible to overcome important treatment-seeking barriers, such as stigma, embarrassment, and accessibility (Cunningham, 2007; Gainsbury et al., 2013; Suurvali et al., 2008).”
From Efficacy of an internet-based psychological intervention for problem gambling and gambling disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as Suurvali et al., 2008
Only 18% of problem gamblers seek formal assistance.
“18% of problem gamblers seek formal assistance (Suurvali et al., 2008).”
From Online and Mobile Interventions for Problem Gambling, Alcohol, and Drugs: A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Suurvali et al., 2008
Help-seeking rates are low.
“help-seeking rates are low.”
From Online and Mobile Interventions for Problem Gambling, Alcohol, and Drugs: A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Suurvali et al., 2008
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References 12 · Cited by 164
- Authors
- Suurvali, H., Hodgins, D., Toneatto, T., & Cunningham, J.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Suurvali, Helen
- ORCID
- Toneatto, Tony
- Venue
- Psychiatric Services
- Published
- 2008-11
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1343-1346
- ISSN
- 0022-1597 (ISSN-L)
- 1075-2730
- 1557-9700
- OpenAlex
- W1966887104
- Cited by
- 164
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatric Services (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- problem gambling, help-seeking, gambling treatment, treatment seeking, problem severity, gambling addiction, self-help groups, self-help materials, Ontario
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Gambling, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Health Care Surveys
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