Getting help is the first step to reducing gambling harm. Deciding where and how to start your journey can be confusing, so using a specialist service can help you get started.
You should seek support if you ever feel in intense distress and need urgent care. You can visit your local hospital's emergency department or contact your local mental health service, Lifeline or Beyond Blue. All Victorian mental health services provide 24/7 support.
Find out about your local mental health services here.
You can also contact Lifeline and Beyond Blue.
Your GP, Gambler's Help or Gambling help online are good places to start.
Find out more about the support provided by Gamber's Help and Gambling help online.
gambling minds is a secondary consultation service, which means we work alongside your GP, mental health clinician or counsellor to provide additional specialist assessment.
Some people prefer to research information online before seeking help from a health professional. Here's a few organisations you can try.
As people start their recovery journey, they may choose to try and reduce some gambling urge triggers. There are several ways you can reduce access by limiting access to money or excluding yourself from gambling venues or online facilities.
Self-exclusion programs are a service offered by the gaming industry to people who wish to ban themselves from gaming rooms around Victoria.
Gambler’s Help services can advise and support you through this process. You can also contact the following organisations to arrange self-exclusion:
Find out more about self-exclusion programs.
BetStop - the National Self-Exclusion Register™ is a safe and free Australian Government initiative to block yourself from all licensed Australian online and phone gambling providers. You can register at any time.
Once you register, online and phone gambling providers will not be able to:
You can nominate someone you know to support you while you are self-excluded. You can also access information about other gambling supports that are available.
Ready to start? Registering takes about 5 minutes and can be started by clicking here.
Some people start with limiting access to money in the early stages of their recovery. Your counsellor and financial counsellor can talk with you about ways to do this to meet your needs best. Banks can be a helpful place to start.
Find out more about money management.
Gambling. It's worth asking the question.
Mental health clinicians are skilled in discussing sensitive issues. They are ideally placed to explore patients gambling behaviour.
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