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Gambling-Related Suicide Research Programme: Announcement of funding decisions
Greo Evidence Insights would like to announce that final decisions regarding the Gambling-Related Suicide Research Programme funding call have been made. The goal of the programme is to fund research in the UK that will improve understanding of the links between gambling and suicide to increase the effectiveness of regulatory measures, harm reduction, prevention, postvention, and ultimately reduce the number of gambling-related suicides in the UK.
The specific details of these grants are described below. In the Spring of 2024, Greo will issue a call for proposals aimed at mobilising the knowledge emerging from these grants. Please continue to check back on this page or subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when these opportunities are made available.
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In the Autumn of 2023, grants were awarded to the following research projects:
Abstract:
Abstract:
Current empirical evidence on the risk factors associated with gambling-related suicide is scarce. Rarer still is evidence exploring how associations between suicidality and gambling behaviours vary among different types of gamblers. High-quality longitudinal data exploring the association between suicidality and gambling is needed, as is insight determining risk factors for suicidal ideation as strong predictor of future suicidal behaviour.
Addressing these needs, our project, first, undertakes secondary analysis of an existing longitudinal survey of regular sports bettors which assessed gambling behaviours and suicidal ideation at three time periods: June 2020; November 2020 and March 2021 (stage 1). This large sample of regular sports bettors (n=2701) also gambled on a range of other activities with diverse levels of gambling engagement. This unique data allows us to: a) explore associations between suicidal ideation and different types of gambling characteristics; b) assess how these associations change over time and c) understand the different factors that influence these associations. Analyses will use Latent Class Analysis and Fixed and Random Logit Models to assess this.
Second, we will extend insights generated from stage 1 by collecting a fourth wave of data collection from sports bettors who were included in the original sample. Adding a fourth wave (n~1400) allows us to explore how gambling behaviours, suicide ideation, and their inter-relationships operate over a longer timeframe and in a post-COVID environment. Gaps identified in stage 1 will be filled by including additional questions on mental health and other key confounders.
Combined, these two stages will improve the evidence base on the relationship between gambling and suicidal ideation among regular sports bettors by providing unique longitudinal insight of a high-risk group of gamblers. This allows the identification of the key characteristics of individuals within high-risk groups who might be at an increased risk of taking their own life.
Abstract:
Gambling-related suicide is a serious public health challenge. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that gambling can lead to suicide, and that people who gamble at harmful levels are at an increased risk of suicide. However, the precise nature of the relationship between harmful gambling and suicide is not well understood.
Many people who die by suicide have a prior history of self-harm for which they may have attended primary or secondary treatment settings such as general practice (GP) surgeries or hospitals. Data linkage studies can provide valuable insights into the relationship between harmful gambling and suicide. By linking routinely collected data from primary and secondary care, we can identify people who are at risk of suicide and who may be struggling with gambling problems. This information can then be used to develop targeted interventions to prevent suicide and better identify those at risk.
Here, we will utilise the prestigious Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank and other nationally representative linked datasets to explore relationships between contacts from primary and secondary healthcare settings and harmful gambling, mental health conditions, and addictive behaviours. This will track individual pathways through healthcare settings. We will also calculate the social and economic costs of gambling related suicide, map trajectories from healthcare settings to mortality, and examine any specific trends in vulnerable populations (members of the Armed Forces community; both those currently serving and veterans).
Our work will begin and end with rapid reviews/scoping exercises and knowledge-sharing events, respectively, aimed at identifying the key research questions and the appropriate research designs to be used to test them, the estimated social and economic costs of gambling-related suicide, and ways of evidencing pathways to impact for all stakeholders.
Peer Review and Adjudication Process
Each proposal submitted to the Gambling Related Suicide Research Programme was reviewed by three external peer reviewers with relevant expertise. Before conducting their reviews, each peer reviewer was screened for potential conflicts of interest and whether they had existing relationships with applicants that may influence their review. Peer reviewers who were comfortable making their identity public are listed below. Each reviewer was asked to assess the proposal based on the evaluation criteria described in SECTION 7 of the application guidelines (Qualitative application guidelines & Quantitative application guidelines). All those involved in the process were offered an honorarium.
Each proposal was also independently reviewed by each Adjudication Committee Co-Chair (see below). Aggregated anonymized peer reviews were provided to the Co-Chairs who then considered each proposal based the peer reviewers’ assessments, their own assessments, and the stated objectives of the research programme. A meeting was convened in which the proposals were discussed, ranked, and funding decisions were made.
Adjudication Committee Co-Chairs (in alphabetical order)
Becca Coster, Head of Market Insight, University of Essex. Former member of the Gambling Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) who provided expert independent advice on the basis of lived experience of gambling harms.
Anna van der Gaag, Visiting Professor, Ethics and Regulation, University of Surrey, UK, and Chair, Advisory Board for Safer Gambling at the Gambling Commission (declined honorarium).
Peer Reviewers (in alphabetical order)
Zoë Boden-Stuart, Faculty Arts and Social Science, The Open University. Public Profile: https://www.open.ac.uk/people/zbs7
Michael Goodstadt, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Public Profile: https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/faculty-profile/goodstadt-michael/
Anna Lavis, Medical Anthropology, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham. Public Profile: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/applied-health/lavis-anna.aspx
Fiona Nicoll, Professor of Political Science and Alberta Gambling Research Institute Research Director, University of Alberta and editor of the international journal Critical Gambling Studies. (declined honorarium)
Jani Selin, Senior researcher, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Public Profile: linkedin.com/in/jani-selin-11761674
Brianna Turner, Psychology, University of Victoria. Public Profile: https://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/psychology/people/faculty-directory/turner-brianna.php
For more information about the 2023 funding call, see the original call for applications.
For more information about the funding provided to Greo to support the gambling-related suicide research programme visit the About the funds page.