Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI) has launched an initiative in Colorado aimed at assisting military members affected by mental health concerns related to gambling.
The rollout of statewide program Stigma Stand Down is dedicated to fostering resilience among active-duty service members, veterans and their families faced with the threats posed by compulsive gambling, KRI wrote in a press release.
Colorado is home to more than 60,000 active-duty, guard and reserve personnel across the state. With the rise of legalised sports betting, the initiative arrives at a critical time to normalize conversations around areas such as mental health, PTSD, depression, substance use and gambling-related harms for members of the military, according to KRI.
“Stigma is a silent enemy that leaves our service members and veterans isolated, harming their families, units and mission readiness,” said Mark Lucia, who serves as director of programming at KRI.
Statewide outreach for Kindbridge programme
Kindbridge initiated the programme near the start of the football season, annually the busiest period of the sports betting calendar. Through a partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health, the initiative offers free, confidential therapy sessions to military members and their families. In addition, KRI provides an anonymous Gambling Self-Check (BBGS) tool that provides personalised feedback as a method for early intervention.
According to KRI, research indicates that gambling disorders are up to 3.5 times more prevalent in military populations than their civilian counterparts. Unique pressures for active-duty members, as well as veterans transitioning back to civilian life, are viewed as stressors that can lead to problem gambling.
Over the summer, BetMGM director of responsible gambling Rich Taylor co-wrote a piece for the National Council on Problem Gambling on the challenges faced by military members with regard to compulsive gambling.
Taylor cited a disturbing trend that found that the attempted suicide rate for veterans who have sought treatment for gambling addiction is around 40%.
Dismantling shame for military members, families
The new initiative joins existing efforts to curb rates of compulsive gambling among the cohort.
Earlier this summer, around two dozen state affiliates of the NCPG and three operators (MGM Resorts, BetMGM and FanDuel) penned a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to make gambling addiction a research topic in a forthcoming Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The initiative has received support from several U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
The programme builds on partnerships with organisations such as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of New Mexico, Cactus Advertising Agency and Kindbridge Behavioral Health. According to KRI, the initiative was made possible through grants provided by the Colorado Division of Gaming and FanDuel.
“Stigma Stand Down is our frontline response: dismantling shame and delivering free, confidential, evidence-based care designed for military realities,” Lucia said. “We thank our partners for standing with us and call on more allies to help transform lives and build stronger communities.”
A programme from Kindbridge Research Institute provides assistance to active-duty military members and families struggling with compulsive gambling issues.