The Little Blue Book

• You have done dishonest things you’re not proud of because of your gambling • You’re having trouble sleeping because you’re worried about gambling • Your gambling is making you anxious, depressed and stressed • You lie to family and friends, you tell them your gambling is under control, “it’s not that bad” • You feel you can’t stop gambling and have thoughts of self-harm and even suicide. If you can recognise yourself in even one or two of those descriptors, you may be ‘on the path’ to a chronic gambling problem – one that can potentially swallow everything of value in your life if you can’t bring it back under control. And if you recognise a friend or a family member, then maybe it’s time for a gentle hand on the shoulder and a quiet word: “How are things going? It doesn’t look great from where I am. Come on, let me help you get some help for this.” (1) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM); The American Psychiatric Association (APA); www.psychiatry.org ) Australian gamblers lose around $12 billion dollars annually to poker machines. The greatest losses being carried by communities with the lowest median incomes. www.unitingcare.org.au ; Poker Machine Losses, It Matters Where You Live Gambling Helpline (1800 858 858 – 24 hours) Gamblers Anonymous: gaaustralia.org.au (for state-based phone numbers) Lifeline: 13 11 14 ADA Australia ‘A friendly ear’ 1800 232 287 81 ADA Australia PostScript Section 2 Section 1 Section 3