Older problem gamblers at higher risk for suicide

Reuters HealthDay reported on 09/28/08 on a study which appears in the September, 2008, issue of Psychology and Aging which found that older problem gamblers over age 55 self excluded themselves from casinos because of a fear of suicide.

Here is a snippet from the HealthDay article:

Older problem gamblers who ask to be barred from casinos are three to four times more likely than younger gambling addicts to do so because they're afraid they'll commit suicide if they don't stop betting, according to a new study.

The study included 1,601 compulsive gamblers who, between 2001 and 2003, asked to be banned from Missouri casinos. On average, those age 55 and older had gambled for 17 years before "self-exclusion," more than twice the length of time reported by younger gamblers.

Gamblers of all ages cited gaining control, needing help, and hitting rock bottom as their primary reasons for seeking self-exclusion. But 14 percent of older gamblers said they sought help because they wanted to prevent themselves from committing suicide. That's a far higher rate than in any other age group, the study found.