Fortune or foe: The fatal harm caused by a gambling disorder

Résumé

This letter discusses the fatal harm caused by a gambling disorder. Gambling and suicide, however, have been found to be closely related in Hong Kong. The psychological autopsy study found that a gambling disorder is the third most contributory psychiatric disorder to completed suicides in Hong Kong, after psychotic and depressive disorders. The author thinks the connection between a gambling disorder and suicide is poorly understood and possibly under-recognized. In the local context and the wider Asian region, the information needed to formulate preventive and crisis intervention approaches to minimize the harm caused is lacking. If the social costs of gambling disorders continue to be trivialized or ignored over the benefits of legalizing gambling, more money, health and lives will be lost. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved) HONG-KONG CHINE ASIE SUICIDE-COMPLÉTÉ JEU AUTOPSIE-PSYCHOLOGIQUE DÉPENDANCE