Event

Building knowledge of gambling harms across support services

This event hosted by UK think tank the Social Market Foundation explores how the health and social care sector can better support those suffering from gambling related harms and addiction.

Although gambling is increasingly acknowledged as a public health issue and was featured in the recent Men’s Health Strategy, there remains limited evidence on how professionals in the public and voluntary sectors understand and address gambling harms. The Social Market Foundation, together with the Centre for Population Health, is currently undertaking research into this issue, conducting qualitative interviews with professionals across healthcare, housing, children’s services, and other support services, and looking at how far current service designs are taking gambling related harms into account. 

As a result, the SMF is developing a set of policy ideas for those commissioning local services as well as local and national policymakers.   

At this event, our panel will discuss: 

• What the research has found about existing understanding and views about gambling related harms among those delivering health and support services. 
• How misconceptions and knowledge gaps about gambling related harms can be addressed. 
• The pathways that currently exist across health and social care, housing, children’s services for addressing gambling harms. 
• How changes to service design can better support those suffering from gambling related harms and addiction. 

Speakers

Niamh O Regan – Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation

Professor Durka Dougall – CEO, Centre for Population Health

Dr Rebecca Montacute – Research Director, Social Market Foundation (Chair)