Support Veterans and Their Families in November With These Resources
Published: November 11, 2024
November is a significant month for the military community, not only because it commemorates Veterans Day but also because it has been declared Military Family Appreciation Month. If you are a Veteran or a friend or family member of one, learning about their relationship to gambling and how to support them can be a great way to recognize this time of year.
Studies show that Veterans are at greater risk for developing a gambling disorder than the general population. And here in Ohio, one out of every ten Veterans are at risk for a gambling disorder.
Many Veterans are more prone to developing a gambling disorder during their service if they spend time playing slots, card games, and scratch-offs to relieve stress or boredom and compete with their fellow service members. Veterans are also more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and can use gambling to cope.
“All that stress, all that tension, all the things that I was carrying with me in that moment went away,” Veteran Army Staff Sergeant Dave Yeager recently told CNBC about his first gambling experience on a military base in South Korea. “It went from, I have fun doing this, to, I have to do this. It became an obsession for me.”
While Veterans and active military members greatly sacrifice in service to their country, their families can’t be overlooked. They’re often the ones left in charge of child-rearing, managing the household, and keeping various affairs in order while waiting for their loved ones to return home safely.
This November, you can support the military by thanking them and their families for all their hard work and bravery, learning more about disordered gambling, and supporting nonprofits that honor troops and Veterans. Yeager’s new book is available to purchase to learn more about gambling disorders in the military or gift it to a service member you know. You can also listen to his podcast, where he supports the military community, interviews experts, and discusses new research.
For more resources, Pause Before You Play has an entire toolkit dedicated to raising awareness about gambling disorders and promoting responsible gambling behaviors among the military community. There’s also the free two-minute quiz that rates an individual’s risk of problem gambling. The Get Help page lists various resources and anonymous support groups for Veterans, active military, and their families.
Lastly, trained and understanding operators at the completely confidential Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline are available to answer calls from the Veteran and active military community and anyone else wondering about their gambling behaviors. Call the free, 24/7 Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or text 4HOPE to 741741. Ohio also now offers virtual telehealth services at no cost through the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network.