Mental Health Awareness Week

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Mental Health Awareness Week takes place this year from 12th to 18th May. This week is a chance to reflect on our relationship with mental health and start conversations with ourselves and others. 

This year the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Community’, specifically looking at how being part of a safe and positive community is vital for our health and wellbeing.

In this article, we’ll investigate the connections between gambling harm and mental health, explore how communities can help improve the wellbeing of those impacted by gambling harm, and see how the Primary Care Gambling Service (PCGS) is using communities to support our patients.

Gambling Harm and Mental Health

Gambling harm and mental health are inextricably linked, and studies have shown that changes in one can have a significant impact on the other. 

Those experiencing gambling harm are more likely to experience stress, depression and anxiety [1]. A significant link has been found between gambling harm and depression in England and Scotland [2], and experience of gambling harm has been significantly associated with clinical levels of mental distress, probable depression, and a doctor diagnosed mental health condition [3].
With gambling harm having such a significant impact on mental health, it’s important we reflect on how communities can help to boost wellbeing.

Mental Health Awareness Week and the Power of Community

Since 2001, Mental Health Awareness Week has been an opportunity for people across the country to focus on good mental health and wellbeing. This year, the focus of the campaign is on the mental health benefits of community. 

Being part of a safe and positive community can help build resilience as well as senses of belonging and purpose. It can also help to reduce feelings of isolation and distress and can help mitigate the symptoms of mental health issues [4].

We also know the impact that strong community support, or lack thereof, can have on gambling behaviours. One study found that those with a strong social support network were able to build a resilience that reduced their risk of experiencing gambling harm in the face of significant life events and other co-morbidities [5].

With the benefits of community support clear to see, let’s investigate how PCGS is using community to support our patients.

PCGS Support for Gambling Harm

PCGS is a completely free and confidential service for any adults across Britain experiencing gambling harm. We provide holistic support, considering a patient’s psychological, physical, and social needs on top of their gambling behaviour. We then take a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, ensuring that patients receive the appropriate care.

One of the ways we do this is with our group support sessions. We offer multiple types of group support including men’s only groups, women’s only groups, mixed groups, and neurodivergent groups designed for those with ASD and ADHD. These groups create a safe space for our patients and allow them to build a community of like-minded people they can bond with during their care journeys.

One clear success story from these groups is our previous patient, Bryan. He was referred to PCGS in early 2024 and to this day he still attends our group sessions, providing peer support to new attendees. Bryan reflected on the positive effects of this community for his peers; “I saw someone I spoke to come to a session smiling and chatty for the first time in weeks... it was brilliant”. The benefits to his own mental health were also undeniable; “My mental state gets stronger every day, from my first chat with [my adviser] I got stronger.”

As well as our group support sessions, we also provide one-to-one therapies and support for those affected by someone else's gambling. 
If you’re concerned about how your own or someone else's gambling is impacting you, you can self-refer on our website or give us a ring on 0300 0300 111.

We’re here to help.

Sources

• [1] Help for problems with gambling
• [2] Churchill, S. A., & Farrell, L. (2018). The impact of gambling on depression: New evidence from England and Scotland. Economic Modelling, 68, 475-483.
• [3] Taylor, I., Wardle, H., Stocker, B., & Taylor, B. (2021). Investigating the relationship between physical and mental health conditions and gambling in England and Scotland.
• [4] How community benefits your mental health

Published: May 10, 2025