Led by Dr Sharon Mallon, working alongside Dr Jessica Runacres, the six-month study will examine how gambling-related harms are experienced and why many people delay or avoid accessing support – even when they are in crisis.
“Problematic gambling is on the rise, and this research will explore the barriers to seeking help,” said Dr Mallon, Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Wellbeing.
“We are particularly interested in how women are affected. Traditionally, problem gambling has been viewed as a male issue, but with the ease of access to online gambling and mobile apps, women are increasingly being targeted.”
Gambling harms are recognised as a significant public health concern, with evidence indicating that around 40% of adults in Britain engage in some form of gambling each year. Research has also linked excessive gambling to an elevated risk of suicide, with suicidality particularly high among those experiencing severe gambling harms.
Dr Mallon, who is an internationally recognised suicide researcher, warns that gambling problems often intensify in the post-Christmas period, particularly as financial pressures peak in January and around Blue Monday.
“There is often a rise in problem gambling at this time of year, when people are desperate for money,” she explained. “The aim of this research is to understand how we can encourage people to seek help if their gambling has become harmful, rather than people considering quite desperate actions.”
The research will examine how experiences of shame differ across genders and cultures, recognising that concerns around honour, reputation and family image can significantly shape whether and how people seek support.
Dr Mallon said: “We’re being told to gamble responsibly as part of media messaging, but it can be very hard to do that when you are being actively targeted by advertising.
“People experiencing problematic gambling often feel shame, which prevents them from seeking help. So, we are interested in how people from different backgrounds respond differently to shame due to social and cultural influences, and how that could be addressed.”
The project, titled Gambling, Indebtedness, and Suicide: The Roles of Shame, Gender, and Culture in Help-Seeking, has secured funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to conduct a rapid evidence review as part of the new Research Programme on Gambling led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The project will identify gaps in the current research landscape and help shape future studies, interventions and public health campaigns.
The team is also working closely with people who have lived experience of gambling harms, alongside practitioners in the field, to guide the project and ensure its findings are grounded in real-world experience.
Dr Mallon added: “We believe that working with people who have lived experience of gambling harms is a particularly effective way of developing the work and will strongly guide our approach.
“Ultimately, we hope that our findings will support the development of more effective prevention strategies and referral pathways that encourage people to seek help earlier.”