Helping Yourself
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Recent figures from the Queensland Household Survey of Gambling reported that 230,000 Queenslanders had experienced negative consequences as a result of their gambling.
To help reduce this alarming statistic, psychologists from the University’s School of Psychology have developed a self-help program designed to help gamblers monitor their thinking in relation to gambling. Project leader, Professor Tian Oei, said Cognitive Behaviour Therapy was an approach that had been shown to work well in the treatment of addictive behaviours and other mental health problems.
He said CBT was used in the program to educate users about the nature of gambling, and the triggers and factors that maintained problem gambling. The program includes strategies for challenging common thinking errors associated with gambling, as well as practical strategies for managing mood, budgeting, and relationship problems.
A current trial is designed to evaluate the same program delivered in a self-help format using a manual sent by mail to anywhere in Queensland. The research team believes the program will be favoured by people reluctant to see a therapist face-to- face, or who live outside of major metropolitan areas. Participation in the program is free and the project is funded by a Responsible Gambling research grant from Queensland Treasury.
