Are UK gambling-related suicide numbers misleading?

Concerns have emerged regarding the UK’s reported rates of gambling-related suicides, with experts highlighting the use of flawed methods in their calculation.

Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK have cited these suicide figures in their call for a comprehensive review of existing gambling laws. However, industry analysts assert that the statistics in question are misleading and derived from questionable methodologies.

In a recent correspondence to Parliament, MP Layla Moran, chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, advocated for a reassessment of the Gambling Act. Her letter referenced findings indicating significant harm associated with gambling, including high suicide rates. It pointed to a report from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) published in 2023, which estimated that between 117 and 496 suicides each year may be linked to problem gambling.

Despite the alarming nature of these figures, several industry experts believe that the data should be interpreted with caution. Melanie Ellis, a partner at the law firm Northridge, commented, “It is troubling that the letter prominently features the disputed estimate of 117 to 496 gambling-related suicides annually in England.” She further speculated that this letter is unlikely to instigate a fresh reassessment of the Gambling Act, especially given the current focus on implementing recommendations from the 2023 white paper.

The genesis of these estimates can be traced back to the UK’s initial state-sponsored evaluation of gambling-related suicides conducted in 2021. A report from Public Health England announced that there were approximately 409 suicides each year due to gambling harm. This statistic was subsequently updated by OHID in 2023, resulting in a new range of 117 to 496 linked suicides.

Dan Waugh, a partner at Regulus Partners, indicates that both the OHID and Public Health England grounded their estimates in a 2018 study examining the medical records of patients treated in Swedish hospitals from 2006 to 2016. This research, led by Dr. Anna Karlsson and Professor Anders Håkansson from Lund University, claimed that problem gamblers were 15.1 times more likely to die by suicide.

However, Waugh contends that essential details were overlooked in applying this data to the UK context. “The individuals whose records were analyzed in the Swedish study had a range of pre-existing mental and physical health conditions, placing them at higher risk of self-harm regardless of their gambling status,” he pointed out.

Even the original authors of the study have acknowledged that their findings might be skewed towards individuals suffering severe gambling disorders. A subsequent study by Karlsson and Håkansson in 2020 identified alcohol and drug abuse as additional factors influencing reported cases of suicide attempts.

Expert Opinions on Methodology

In 2022, then-Health Minister Maggie Throup assured Parliament that the Public Health England report would be reviewed, and the underlying calculations would be disclosed. As of now, these findings have yet to be published, despite changes in government and impending elections.

Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, an expert panel member who contributed to the OHID report, has expressed her skepticism regarding the applicability of methodologies from other countries for accurately assessing suicide rates. “We cannot extrapolate from Swedish studies, or those from Norway—it is simply ineffective,” she emphasized.

Assessing the relationship between gambling and suicide is inherently complex, as suicide often results from a confluence of mental and physical health issues. Limited reliable statistics on gambling-related suicides have made their prevalence difficult to quantify. For instance, the UK’s Office for National Statistics reported just 21 suicides between 2001 and 2016 that mentioned gambling on the death certificate. However, they urge caution in interpreting these figures, as coroners may lack detailed insight into the deceased’s gambling history and related struggles.

Waugh acknowledges the correlation between gambling disorders and suicide risk, yet he stresses the importance of contextualizing these figures. “Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing effective self-harm prevention strategies,” he added.

Recommendations for Future Research

For future assessments of gambling-related suicides to be credible, they must employ clear methodologies and operational definitions. Factors to consider should include the duration of gambling, relevant diagnoses of gambling addiction, and any comorbid medical conditions.

While clear data on gambling-related suicides is essential, it’s important to recognize the genuine suffering of families affected by gambling harm, such as Liz and Charles Ritchie, advocates from the organization Gambling with Lives. In 2017, they tragically lost their son Jack, and they have shared their personal story numerous times, highlighting that statistics do not overshadow the real emotional impact of gambling-related suicides.