Join us for this FREE webinar focusing on gambling among the veteran population, and the practical steps your practice can take to reduce the risk of gambling harm to patients and their families. The webinar will also cover the new NICE guideline on gambling harms and how to implement this in your practice. 

By attending this live webinar, your GP practice will receive the RCGP Gambling Harms practice resource pack and a GP practice accreditation certificate. Learn more about the benefits of Gambling Harms Practice Accreditation here.

Learning Objectives

•    To raise awareness among GPs and their teams of how gambling is linked with a range of issues affecting veterans and their families.

•    To equip GPs and their teams with the knowledge to understand the impact of stigma on veterans affected by gambling-related harm and learn how to address it effectively.

•    To learn about the new NICE guideline – Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management (Jan 2025).

•    To raise awareness of the issues, build knowledge and share treatment options for patients.

Who should attend?

Medical practitioners in the primary care setting, including but not limited to:

•    GPs and practice nurses.

•    Clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, health and well-being coaches and care co-ordinators.

•    Non-clinical staff including managers.

Background

Recent research shows that UK Armed Forces veterans are eight times more likely to have gambling problems compared with non-veterans. Veterans are at a higher risk for gambling addiction compared to civilians due to various unique stressors related to military life. Many veterans experience trauma, PTSD, or mental health issues resulting from their service, and gambling can become a means of escaping these emotional burdens.

Gambling is a serious public health issue; up to 1.5 million adults in Great Britain are experiencing problem gambling and those negatively affected by someone else’s gambling are estimated to represent at least 3.6 million people in England, Scotland and Wales.

Gambling can cause negative effects on people’s health and wellbeing. These include financial difficulties, breakdown of relationships, mental and physical health problems, and sadly in some cases, suicide. Harms are often experienced not just by those who gamble, but by friends, family and wider society. Unfortunately, many veterans may feel unwilling or reluctant to seek help due to the stigma attached to gambling issues, especially after a life of service.

There is a significant unmet need with respect to engaging people experiencing gambling harms, particularly veterans. GPs have key role in early identification, assessment and treatment of people suffering from gambling harms. This learning webinar is an opportunity to understand more about these issues, to hear from experts in gambling harms and veteran health-related fields, and take away some practical tips to use in consultations. Attendees will also receive the RCGP Gambling Harms resource pack, which includes slides, posters, and a consultation tool.

Join us on Tuesday 4 November as we bring together a panel of experts from the sector of gambling treatment. We will share the latest research into gambling harms, share lived experience from a veteran and answer your questions and signpost you to up-to-date resources, including the RCGP Gambling Harms Hub. You will be able to put your questions to our panel of gambling treatment experts in our Q&A session.

Speakers and panellists

Dr Emma Ryan, RCGP Clinical Champion for Gambling Harms and GP Partner of the Primary Care Gambling Service

Representative of the RCGP Veteran Friendly Practice programme

TBC – lived experience advisor

This webinar has been facilitated with the support of GambleAware.