Funded by Northern Territory Government, Community Benefit Fund Gambling Research Grant – LNT2022/1921-0001

Background

Gambling harm is a significant issue in the Northern Territory (NT), with 15% of the local adult population at risk (Stevens et al., 2019; Stevens et al., 2017). It is particularly harmful to those with co-occurring issues, which refers to other problems ranging from health conditions to social issues (Gupta & Stevens, 2020; Gupta et al., 2021). Gambling harm also impacts 8% of the families and friends of these individuals in the Territory (Stevens et al., 2019; Stevens et al., 2017). Despite its extensive harm, we know little about how to respond. Personal recovery is a promising but underexplored approach (Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, 2013; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division, 2012; Nower & Blaszczynski, 2008). We have previously successfully applied this approach to help individuals with mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use issues and their families and friends in the NT (Tari-Keresztes, Armstrong et al., 2022; Tari-Keresztes et al., 2020; Tari-Keresztes, Girdler, et al., 2022; Tari-Keresztes, Gupta, et al., 2022; Tari-Keresztes et al., 2021).

Aims and objectives

The project addresses this gap in practice and research and aims to understand personal recovery and pathways to recovery from gambling harm. This involves (1) exploring different pathways to recovery, (2) investigating resources (recovery capital) that support maintaining recovery, (3) identifying psychosocial support needs, and (4) understanding the impact of peer support and other types of support on recovery.

Project team:

Investigators:

• Dr Noemi Tari-Keresztes, Senior Research Fellow in Mental Health (Lived Experience), Rural and Remote Health (RRH), College of Medicine and Public Health (CMPH), Flinders University
• Dr Himanshu Gupta, Honorary Senior Lecturer, RRH, CMPH, Flinders University and Senior Lecturer and Institute of Health & Management Pty Ltd
• Prof James A. Smith, Deputy Dean RRHNT, CMPH, Flinders University, Matthew Flinders Professor (Health and Social Equity) & Co-Director FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program
• Ms Noelene Armstrong, Lived Experience Advocate, Senior Peer Mentor, Peer Program Manager, Northern Territory Lived Experience Network (NTLEN)
• Dr Magenta Simmons, Associate Professor, Orygen and University of Melbourne
• Ms Gina Chinnery, Director, Orygen
• Dr Devaki Monani, Senior Lecturer, Charles Darwin University (CDU)
• Prof Sharon Lawn, Professor, Flinders University (CMPH) and Executive Director, Lived Experience Australia
• Prof Victoria J. Palmer, Professor, University of Melbourne and Co-Director, the ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation

Critical friends

• Amity Community Services (Amity)
• Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT)
• AnglicareNT
• Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA)
• NTLEN and other lived experience representatives