Shadow minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan welcomes new gaming and gambling addiction training
Labour Party shadow minister for mental health, Doctor Rosena Allin-Khan, spoke at the launch of a new training programme tackling the lack of knowledge and confidence amongst health professionals in diagnosing children and young people with gaming and gambling addictions.
Developed by The Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) and BetKnowMore, 'The Mindful Resilience Programme’ brings together the insights of specialists in addiction, academics, psychologists, and medical professionals.
Dr Allin-Khan, herself a London-based medical doctor, said: “The Mindful Resilience Programme is a pioneering initiative, aiming to address the gaps in existing support available to health care professionals working with young people living with gambling addictions.”
“It is vital that we work proactivity to tackle these addictions and support those affected. And the first step is ensuring that our health professionals have the knowledge and confidence to offer young people, struggling with these challenges, the support they need.”
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The health sector has been lacking in the knowledge and confidence to face the challenges of gambling and gaming addiction
Free of charge to all health professionals in the London area, the programme addresses the lack of support for health professionals when it comes to facing the challenges of gambling and gaming addictions.
Dr Sarah Hodge, a cyberpsychologist at Bournemouth University, has developed the training programme alongside YGAM and BetKnowMore UK. She described the urgent need for such a programme:
“It was becoming increasingly clear to those of us who have studied and worked with gaming and gambling-related harms that the health sector was lacking in the knowledge and confidence to identify risks and appropriately signpost young people and their families.”
“Both charities are aware of the scale of the issue, and it's a natural progression for them to work with academics like myself to develop and provide training to those health professionals who need support.”
If you are a health professional interested in the Mindful Resilience programme, please visit this page or for more information email info@mindfulresilience.org.
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