A Silent Risk: Gambling Harm and Mental Health

Gambling harm is a significant and often overlooked public health issue, with serious impacts on mental health, financial wellbeing, relationships, and suicide risk. Australians lose an estimated $25 billion each year to legal gambling, and almost half of people who gamble are at risk of experiencing harm. Young adults and men are disproportionately affected, with early exposure to gambling increasing vulnerability over time.

Despite growing evidence, gambling harm is not consistently recognised or addressed within mental health and suicide prevention systems.

A Silent Risk: Gambling Harm and Mental Health brings together cross-sector professionals to explore the links between gambling and mental health, share current evidence, and strengthen integrated, preventative responses across mental health, suicide prevention, and gambling support services.

What to expect

• Insights into the relationship between gambling and its effect on mental health

• Current data, trends, and emerging evidence

• Cross-sector perspectives from mental health, gambling support services, and policy

• Opportunities to strengthen collaboration

• Practical considerations for integrating gambling harm into mental health responses

Who Should Attend

This forum is designed for:

• Mental health and wellbeing practitioners

• Suicide prevention and early intervention workers

• Health and allied health professionals

• Gambling harm and financial counselling services

• Community and social service organisations

• Policy makers, commissioners, and service planners

• Researchers and lived experience advocates

Event details

Date: Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location: 36 Dodd Street, Bendat Parent and Community Centre, Wembley

Key Speakers and presentation topics

• MC - John Rich, Men’s Health and Wellbeing

• Keynote Speaker - Dr Daniela Vecchio, Fiona Stanley Hospital (2026 WA Australian of the Year nominee) on Gaming Clinic at Fiona Stanley Hospital: present and future

• Vincent Mancini, The Kids Institute on Preventing gambling-related harm in boys and young men

• Kelly Price, Financial Wellbeing Collaborative on The complexity of gambling – a financial specialist perspective

• Rose Newbury-Freeman, WACOSS on Reducing Gambling Harm in WA: Scoping Study Findings

• Romy Pritchard, RDP Enterprise on the Overview of the MHFA Conversations about Gambling training

Getting there:

Free on-site and street parking is available around Dodd Street and surrounding residential streets. The venue is accessible via Transperth bus services, with several bus stops located within walking distance. The closest train station is Subiaco Station on the Transperth network. From the station, it is approximately a 5–10 minute drive or short bus ride to the venue.

Important Information

This event will include discussion of mental health, gambling harm, and suicide, which some attendees may find distressing. If you require support, you can contact:

• Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 (24/7)

• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467

Accessibility

The venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have any additional accessibility or dietary requirements, please let us know when registering or contact the event organiser directly.

Forum Presented by Neami National’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator Program.