King's College London

Unit researcher, Caroline Norrie met with Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) Gambling Lead for Yorkshire and the Humber, Simone Aarratoonian today to discuss emerging findings from the Unit study identifying Gambling Harms in local authorities. Simone has recently been appointed to lead a three-year public health programme to tackle gambling harms in Yorkshire and the Humber, and is supported by an £800,000 regulatory settlement approved by the Gambling Commission. The programme will focus on education and prevention and provide access to support and treatment for individuals and their families experiencing problem gambling. It will improve identification of problem gambling through training in workplaces, directing gamblers to self-management and support, protecting high risk and vulnerable groups from gambling-related harm, and working with individuals and communities to raise awareness and reduce stigma. More information.

There are clear synergies with our Unit Gambling Harms in Local Authorities study which is developing a new 'gateway' question for opening conversations with service users about gambling harms. The study involves working with GamCare to develop training to be used in adult services departments and piloting and evaluating the new question (and costs to local authorities of implementing it) in three local authorities.

Image: Humber Bridge