A qualitative analysis of people who died by suicide and had gambling documented in their coronial file

Background

Gambling related harms are vast and varied. There is evidence that gambling is associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Our aim was to identify and profile individuals who died by suicide and had gambling documented in their coronial file.

Methodology

The Irish Probable Suicide Death Study dataset contains all (n = 3,625) coroner and research-determined suicide deaths between 2015 and 2020. It was systematically searched to identify all deaths where gambling was recorded in coroner’s files. Relevant data were extracted and included in a new database for further qualitative-driven analysis. Long-term distal (or chronic) and short-term proximal (or acute) risk factors were used as a framework for the analysis of the data.

Results

Gambling was recorded in 23 coroners’ files, representing 0.6% of all suicides during the six-year period. Males were overrepresented and less than half were in employment at the time of death. Distal risk factors included co-occurring mental health conditions (notably mood disorders), a history of drug and alcohol dependency, past suicide intent and/or behaviour, and exposure to suicide. Key proximal risk factors included acute mental health symptoms, financial issues, interpersonal problems, intoxication, and recent stressful life events.

Conclusions

We found that 23 people who died by suicide had gambling documented in their coronial file between 2015 and 2020. Numerous socioeconomic factors, interpersonal issues, and mental health conditions including addiction were also present at the time of death. The numbers in this study are likely an underrepresentation and support the need for improvements in data collection.