Supportive Space for Affected Others: Join our Family and Friends Chatroom
Join us on Tuesday 3rd October for the launch of our new weekly Family and Friends Chatroom. A space for family and friends affected by someone else’s gambling harm to connect, seek advice and find support.
Is someone you care about struggling with their gambling? You are not alone. 20% of callers to our National Gambling Helpline are concerned about someone else.
We understand gambling doesn’t just affect the person who gambles, it also impacts those around them, and we are here to help and support you.
Our Family and Friends Chatroom is a safe, anonymous, and confidential space to discuss the impact someone else’s gambling has on your life. It can be used to connect with others in similar situations, ask questions, and grow your understanding of gambling harm.
What’s new about the Family and Friends Chatroom?
To meet demand, the chatroom will be running every Tuesday and will take place in the morning, from 10am to 11:30am, to reflect the busy period of our Helpline.
We have extended the chatroom timings to an hour and a half so feel free to drop in whenever suits you.
What can I learn from the Family and Friends Chatroom?
The chatroom can provide guidance of how you can look after your own wellbeing, and support you with dealing with difficult emotions associated with being an affected other, including guilt, shame, and anger.
Being an affected other can feel isolating, so the chatroom aims to create a sense of hope and community.
Our Family and Friends Chatroom will run every Tuesday from 10am to 11:30am and each session will be moderated by a trained moderator. The chatroom is an open discussion and will be guided by what you want support with. The first session launches on Tuesday 3rd October.
Registering couldn’t be easier. To participate in our chatroom, you will need to register. Once you’re registered, the chatroom will be visible on the chatroom page and you can drop in anytime after 10am to be connected.
When you register, we’ll ask for a username. It isn’t necessary to use your real name or any identifier as a username as this is the name that is publicly displayed whilst messaging on our chatroom. We’ll ask for your email and first name when you sign up, but this information will not be publicly displayed and can only be accessed by the GamCare team. This means you can remain anonymous while speaking in the chatroom, as well as on our forum.
If you need support right now, our Helpline is available 24/7. Talk to one of our advisers free and confidentially on the phone or via live chat.
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