GamCare has reported an uptick in the number of females accessing gambling support across the UK, in addition to detailed an increase in the understanding of such harms.
An evaluation report of the charity’s training sessions for professionals found that 85 per cent of participants improved their understanding of gambling harms, including how to identify women in need of support.
The review, produced by inFocus Consulting, discovered that the GamCare training programme saw 97 per cent of participants understand how problem gambling impacts women they work with after receiving training.
Furthermore, it also reports that 96 per cent of professionals reported improved confidence in their ability to signpost and refer women to gambling support services.
GamCare’s Women’s Programme, which delivered training to 918 organisation across the UK during this past year, works toward creating systemic change across policy, research and treatment to address the under-representation of women seeking support and accessing treatment, throughout England, Scotland and Wales
Dr Damian Hatton, Managing Director and Senior Evaluator at inFocus Consulting, stated: “It has been a great pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of professionals, who are clearly committed to the advancement of gambling related support and services for women, which has been historically overlooked.
“We are excited to see how the insights from the evaluation can be put to best use in the coming months and years.”
GamCare also says that it has witnessed a six per cent increase in the number of women accessing gambling support in the UK, with the programme intending to continue building in order to increase awareness.
The initiative will also look to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, as well as looking to build stronger relationships with departments of the NHS and other healthcare service providers.
Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare, commented: “At GamCare, we know that stigma and shame are a key barrier to women disclosing concerns, either about their own gambling or someone close to them.
“The Women’s Programme works to reduce stigma, which affects women at risk of experiencing gambling harms, to better understand and break down the barriers they face when seeking treatment.
“Over the next year, we want to continue to raise awareness of how gambling harm affects women and to signpost the gambling support services available for women.”