Advice for the Medical Professional

General Practioners

Use the service finder (gamblershelp.com.au/service-finder) to locate a Gambler’s Help agency that is convenient for your patient or just recommend HELPSTOP as we operate Australia wide.

Write a referral for your patient to share with the Gambler’s Help agency including:

· your contact details

· the date of consultation

· key issues discussed (e.g. need to cut down on gambling, initial presentation of mental health conditions or AOD issues).

If you discern that the issue maybe severe, click the link below and have the patient answer the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) questionnaire which is only nine questions as this will quickly qualify if they need to be referred to a psychiatrist to be diagnosed as having Gambling Disorder DSM 5.

In addition, if your patient has a mental illness like Bipolar or Schizoid personality disorder ask if they gamble particularly on pokie machines as these conditions are just a few that cause these patients to be “three times more likely to gamble than the average person”

PTSG Questions

Allied Health Professionals

Encourage your client to visit helpstop.org or gamblershelp.com.au or call 1800 858 858 to find the support that’s right for them.

Alternatively, you can call HelpStop on 1300 659 602 or Gambler’s Help on your client’s behalf for advice on how best to support them.

Whether a patient feels ready to change their behavior now or in the future, a referral to Help Stop gambling harm or Gambler’s Help can help them understand the range of treatment options available and set them on a path to recovery.

By working with professional support, patients are twice as likely to successfully achieve their goals.

Behavioural Signs · spends a lot of time in gambling venues or on the computer · has stopped doing things he or she previously enjoyed · complains about changes in their patterns of sleep, eating or sex · neglects self-care, work, school or family tasks · uses alcohol or other drugs more often · neglects personal or parental responsibilities.

Emotional Signs · feels guilty about mood swings, anger or frustration vented at their family or friends · complains about unexplained stress, anxiety or sleeplessness · complains of boredom and restlessness seems depressed or suicidal.

Financial / Legal Signs · frequently seeks unexplained emergency financial assistance · has ongoing financial problems that cannot be logically explained · seems to have a bare house (very little food, no utilities, little furniture) · has legal problems related to gambling.

Health Signs ·Complaints about stress-related health problems, such as:

· headaches · stomach and bowel problems · difficulty sleeping · overeating, or loss of appetite.

HP: