Online support for gambling problems

Presented by Dr Richard Wood

Who is GamTalk?

• A not-for-profit organization, registered in Canada, serving N. America and beyond.

• Managed by psychologist Dr Richard Wood, local moderators and a fantastic community!

• Approx 11,000 members and more than 40,000 unique visitors per year

• Operating since 2008

What is GamTalk?

• A free-to-access 24/7 online support community, a source of info and support

• Available to anyone, anywhere, with an Internet connection

• Moderated peer based discussions, forums, chat-rooms, stories of hope, links

Stories of Hope

How does GamTalk work?

Community

Started talking for first time (68% agree)

Feel less alone (73% agree) Always available

Being part of a Community helps (75% agree)

Direct to other resources

Help beat urges(62% agree) A reminder of how far

you have come

Popular with women 65%F / 35%M

Work alongside other support

Who uses GamTalk?

1st Jan 2014- 1st Jan 2015

Why GamTalk?• Online support is a part of the solution• Building a community takes time and resources

(GamTalk started 2008)• GamTalk is an established N. American focused service• GamTalk compliments and supports existing local

services (e.g., referral from/to support lines and treatment)

• GamTalk is flexible – we can work with you to offer a great service for your community!

www.GamTalk.org

“Hi everyone! I have this site "bookmarked" on my computer and refer to it often. A lot of you are becoming like friends to me and I can relate to everyone's story.”

“Since my last post I have joined GA, and self-excluded myself from the casino, Thanks for everyones comments I'm doing a lot better now than before.”

“Even though I am surrounded by family and friends , they cannot relate unless they have been there. So when I read experiences and real people dealing with the exact same issues I am facing on a daily basis with compulsive gambling, I know I am not alone.” “Welcome- I am also new. I have found this

site very helpful for my recovery. I am not perfect but I have already grown and this site helps with insight to this terrible disease. I am striving for remission one-day-at-a-time.”

“Today my husband is working late. In the past, I would have gambled. Today I came here it feels good to make that choice. Don't get me wrong. I thought about it. I missed it. And then it scared me. So here I am!”

“I am really grateful for this site and the feedback I am getting from it. As I told my addictions counselor, that I always feel alone dealing with this horrible addiction, this site offers some comfort to me.”

A few GamTalk quotes

“Feeling really glad to be a GamTalk member, I was lurking around here from quite some time and finally decided to be a part of this place. I’m ******from US saying hello to all members.”