Study backs Gordon Moody residential gambling harm programme for women
13 June 2024 - 17:15A recent evaluation of Gordon Moody's women-only residential programme for gambling recovery has shown promising results, indicating that nearly half of the participants showed no signs of gambling behavior six months after completing the treatment. Launched initially as a pilot in 2021 and fully implemented the following year, the six-week programme incorporates comprehensive support before, during, and after residential care. Participants undergo a structured schedule including assessment, intensive treatment over four weeks, and a gradual transition back to independent living.
Co-authored by Dr. Rosalind Baker-Frampton and researchers from several institutions including the University of Nottingham and University of Lincoln, the study tracked 68 women enrolled between November 2021 and November 2023. Initial assessments using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) revealed that all participants scored in the high-risk category (>8) before starting the programme. By the end of the study period, significant improvements were noted, with 47.8% reporting no gambling behaviors and 13% classified as low risk six months post-treatment. However, 21.7% remained in the high-risk category.
In addition to reducing gambling behaviors, the programme also contributed to alleviating symptoms of depression among participants. The study observed a decrease from 67.3% to 39.1% in depression symptoms as measured by the Core-10 assessment.
The research highlighted the benefits of residential treatment for women, emphasizing its ability to provide a supportive environment away from daily responsibilities, enabling participants to address underlying issues such as trauma and develop effective coping strategies.
Meanwhile, in light of the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, the gambling support charity GamCare has urged UK employers to enhance support mechanisms for staff vulnerable to gambling addiction. Their recommendations include establishing safe spaces for open discussions, training managers to identify and assist employees in accessing support services, and fostering internal support networks to reduce stigma associated with gambling addiction.
GamCare's proactive approach includes advocating for clear HR policies that align gambling addiction with existing policies on health issues, cautioning against creating gambling-related activities during the tournament, and promoting awareness that gambling harm extends beyond the individual gambler.