Problem Gambling and Suicidal Thoughts
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Please be advised that the following program contains audio content that may be graphic and potentially triggering for some listeners. This content may include descriptions or sounds that some may find disturbing. Listener discretion is strongly advised. This is The Last Show with David Cooper. Gambling addiction. It can often be framed as a money problem, wins, losses, debt. But for some people, the stakes become a little darker. A new study finds nearly one in five problem gamblers report suicidal thoughts. Suicidal ideation. Why? Let's dive in here with psychology professor Steve Jordans from the University of Toronto Scarborough. Steve, welcome to the show.
Yeah, great to be back with you, David.
When I think gambling addiction, I think like ruined families, I think money, but the psychological fallout can go much deeper. Walk me through what can happen when someone's a problem gambler and they start struggling with their mental health.
Yeah. So, you know, often we think of like biological addictions, heroin or something, and we kind of get it that the body has this chemical reaction that can make somebody actually crave and become addicted to that chemical. Everything in our bodies is chemical. Everything is neurotransmitters. So a lot of these behavioral addictions like gambling... It's really the same thing. The first step of it is the use of random rewards. Those random rewards, never knowing when something good is going to happen, but feeling like it's about to happen. Whenever we're in that state, we're having a whole lot of dopamine release. So the moment somebody puts a bet down, they start to feel like I could win. And that feels good.
And they're kind of following that win and chasing that win. If they don't win, they start to think, okay, the win must be right around the corner. And it's almost like the more they lose, the more convinced they become that win is right around the corner. And so they get really compelled to keep up the habit, and especially when they start losing money. Because when you start losing money, the question is, well, maybe I needed that money.
What are the risks of gambling addiction related to mental health?
Maybe that was rent money. Maybe that was food money. How do I get money back? The only thing that comes to their mind is to keep gambling. And so this can just lead to a cycle where they find themselves one day in a really horrible, horrible hole.
I'm sort of oddly positioned here. I believe, I mean, this hasn't been diagnosed by a psychologist or psychiatrist or whatever, but I believe that I have an unrealized gambling problem. I've been to a casino in my life, maybe eight, nine times.
How does gambling lead to suicidal thoughts?
And I remember I was in my twenties getting divorced pretty low at the time, like very low. And I went to a casino and I'm sitting at the blackjack table for like four hours and And I'm feeling on top of the world. Like my body is flooding with these tingly chemicals, you know, that you might associate with great times or like maybe not manic mood, but maybe, I don't know. And so what I do is I just don't go to casinos, but I totally get it. For other people, they can go once a year, sit at a table for an hour, walk in with the maximum amount of money they plan to lose. And if they lose it, they walk away, no issues. It's fun for them, fine, whatever. But for some of us, it's like, it's a roller coaster.
Everything about these places feels amazing when you're winning.
It's been contrived that way. I mean, this is one of the things, you know, I'm a psychology guy. One of the things that kills me is to watch psychologists using psychology on the other side, on the dark side, as you will. And every casino has been created, you know, with every, you know, when other people win, they let you know when other people win. That lets you think that wins right around the corner. Everyone's happy when they win.
What psychological factors contribute to gambling addiction?
They suppress their dark moods. They kind of express their really excitement moods. And so, yeah, it's a fun place. And I think that's the first thing to realize, that for a lot of gamblers, there's not a lot of external fun in their life.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:04–2:14
2
What are the risks of gambling addiction related to mental health?
2:14–2:40
3
How does gambling lead to suicidal thoughts?
2:40–3:48
4
What psychological factors contribute to gambling addiction?
3:48–8:44
5
How does the cycle of gambling addiction affect mental health?
8:44–10:18
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from The Last Show with David Cooper
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