Gambling-related suicides are likely underreported. In this study, the researchers looked at how gambling is currently identified in suicide death investigations in Australia, as well as ways to improve how it is detected and monitored. The researchers recruited 32 adults living in Australia who had experienced a suicide attempt related to gambling, had lost a loved one to gambling-related suicide, or were professionals working in related areas (e.g., death investigation). Participants were interviewed online between 2022 and 2024.
The researchers identified three main themes: the ways that information is gathered, weighted, and reported in death investigations, together with stigma and shame that lead people to hide their gambling; complexity in determining the exact role of gambling in suicide deaths; and systemic barriers to detecting gambling (e.g., limited police training). The findings can inform policy efforts aimed at improving the detection and prevention of gambling-related suicides.
