TY - JOUR
T1 - Gambling-related suicide in Victoria, Australia
T2 - a population-based cross-sectional study
AU - Rintoul, Angela
AU - Dwyer, Jeremy
AU - Millar, Ciara
AU - Bugeja, Lyndal
AU - Nguyen, Huy
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was undertaken with the support of funding from Suicide Prevention Australia , Federation University Australia , and in-kind funding from the Coroners Court of Victoria . The authors are grateful to Dr. Andrew Mellor for providing his geocoding expertise to this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: Gambling is associated with serious harms to health, including suicide. Yet public health systems for recording the role of gambling in suicide deaths are relatively underdeveloped. This study contributes to the understanding of this relationship. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of suicides reported to the Coroners Court of Victoria between 2009 and 2016 was performed to identify the incidence and characteristics of gambling-related suicides (GRS). Findings: From 2009 to 2016 there were 4788 suicide deaths in Victoria. Of these, 184 were identified as direct GRS and a further 17 were GRS by ‘affected others’. Together, these GRS comprise 4.2% of all suicides in Victoria over this eight-year period. Direct GRS account for an annual average rate of 5.13 GRS per million Victorian adults. GRS were significantly more likely to be male (n = 153, 83%), than the Victorian population of total suicide deaths and significantly more likely to occur among those most disadvantaged. Family members and friends were more likely than clinicians to know about the deceased gambling. Interpretation: Given that gambling is not routinely investigated by coroners and may be hidden from family, friends, and health professionals, this is an underestimate of the true scale of the GRS in Victoria. A range of measures should be introduced to prevent, screen, support, and treat gambling harm. Family members and friends should also be provided with help services. Preventing gambling-related harm through public health measures could significantly reduce suicidality and suicide, both in Australia and globally. Funding: Federation University Australia, Coroners Court of Victoria, Suicide Prevention Australia.
AB - Background: Gambling is associated with serious harms to health, including suicide. Yet public health systems for recording the role of gambling in suicide deaths are relatively underdeveloped. This study contributes to the understanding of this relationship. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of suicides reported to the Coroners Court of Victoria between 2009 and 2016 was performed to identify the incidence and characteristics of gambling-related suicides (GRS). Findings: From 2009 to 2016 there were 4788 suicide deaths in Victoria. Of these, 184 were identified as direct GRS and a further 17 were GRS by ‘affected others’. Together, these GRS comprise 4.2% of all suicides in Victoria over this eight-year period. Direct GRS account for an annual average rate of 5.13 GRS per million Victorian adults. GRS were significantly more likely to be male (n = 153, 83%), than the Victorian population of total suicide deaths and significantly more likely to occur among those most disadvantaged. Family members and friends were more likely than clinicians to know about the deceased gambling. Interpretation: Given that gambling is not routinely investigated by coroners and may be hidden from family, friends, and health professionals, this is an underestimate of the true scale of the GRS in Victoria. A range of measures should be introduced to prevent, screen, support, and treat gambling harm. Family members and friends should also be provided with help services. Preventing gambling-related harm through public health measures could significantly reduce suicidality and suicide, both in Australia and globally. Funding: Federation University Australia, Coroners Court of Victoria, Suicide Prevention Australia.
KW - Commercial determinants of health
KW - Gambling
KW - Gambling treatment
KW - Harm reduction
KW - Suicide epidemiology
KW - Suicide prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85173063561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100903
DO - 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100903
M3 - Article
C2 - 38223397
AN - SCOPUS:85173063561
SN - 2666-6065
VL - 41
JO - The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
JF - The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
M1 - 100903
ER -
