Gambling help comes to Australia!

Check out this article from the West Coast Sentinel in Australia.

They're doing an awesome job of meeting the needs of those who struggle with gambling addiction!

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Most of us enjoy a gamble.

In fact figures shows that 80 per cent of adult Australians take part in some form of gambling, whether it be buying our weekly X-lotto ticket, having a punt on the horses or spending time playing the pokies.

However for all the joy we get from gambling it can get out of hand.

Recently shown on ABC News was a creative and effective approach to help those who are feeling that they have lost control over how much money or time they spend on gambling.

The program is provided by Statewide Gambling Therapy Service, run out of the Flinders Medical Centre.

A professionally trained therapist, Sue Bertossa, visits our region on a fortnightly basis and is available to see people who are concerned by the impact gambling is having on their lives.

There is a range of meeting places in Ceduna that can be negotiated to ensure the privacy of each client.

Step by step the therapy trains people to regain control of their gambling.

For example, by the end of the course of therapy someone who has been betting on the pokies should be able to sit in front of their favourite machine, all cashed up, and find it easy to resist playing.

The method is designed for any form of gambling addiction, including internet betting.

Statewide has been providing free and confidential counselling for more than 10 years.

Sue Bertossa said:

“Many people feel ashamed of having problems with gambling and the problems it leads to in their lives.

“However, what we have found through our service is that problem gambling is a very non-discriminatory habit or addiction – it affects people of all ages, varying cultural groups, men and women, both the rich and the poor.

“It may be hard to make the initial contact but good help can really make a difference.”

The program reported a 76 per cent success rate for those who complete the treatment.

Peter Miller, Aboriginal Elder working with the Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service, is concerned about the impact that gambling is having on his community.

“To me, gambling causes all kinds of problems across the board; it affects everyone, it’s not colour blind.

“Gambling can really hurt families, tears people apart.

“The intervention happening in the Northern Territory where the government stepped in to control everyone’s dollars, I would not like to see that happen here in South Australia.”

Peter is widely respected in the community and has encouraged anyone he can to seek help.

“My message to anyone who thinks they have a problem is come in and talk it over, because it doesn’t have to be this way.”

To access support you can phone the Gambling Helpline on 1800 060 757, contact Peter at Ceduna Aboriginal Health Service or contact Sue at her Port Adelaide office, phone (08) 8240 0522 to arrange an initial appointment.