Health professionals must in future ask patients about their gambling habits, suggests the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in its draft guidance on identifying, assessing and managing harmful gambling.
The question should be asked, says NICE, when people attend a health check or appointment with their GP on mental health issues, just as people are asked about their smoking or alcohol habits.
The guidance cites research by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities that shows that there are just under 500 gambling-related suicides in England each year.
Will Prochaska, who is strategy director at Gambling with Lives, a charity that supports families, said: “This draft guidance will help support people who've been lured into harm by the gambling industry.
"It’s essential health care professionals understand the risk gambling poses to their patients and know where to refer for evidence-based treatment.
"The government now needs to honour its commitment to consult on plans for the independent funding of treatment for gambling addiction.”
BBC News last week reported that there are 12 NHS clinics dedicated to gambling treatment in England currently and that around 300,000 UK adults are problem gamblers.
