Are you struggling with gambling or gaming addiction/disorder? Or, are you concerned about someone in your family or organization? You're not alone.
Mental Health in Arizona at a Glance
Before we can look to Arizona’s struggle with gambling addiction (more appropriately known as problem gambling, or gambling disorder) we must first look to mental health concerns in the state as a whole. Data collected from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the
Behavioral Health Barometer for Arizona is quite startling. For instance:
- Over 1 million adults in the state – over 14% of the population – have a diagnosed mental health condition.
- More than 41% of adults report having symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Over 13% of those aged 12-17 have experienced a Major Depressive Episode (MDE).
- More than 60% of the 12–17 Arizonian age group with depression did not receive any care in the most recently reported year.
- Over 39% of all Arizona residents (2.86 million people) live in a community that does not have adequate access to mental health professionals.
There is a major socioeconomic and geographic problem when it comes to mental health care access in the state. The table has been set for even greater concern when it comes to gambling addiction in Arizona.
Renewed Focus on Problem Gambling in Arizona
The data above indicates that access to behavioral health services in Arizona is very limited. Access to specialized therapy for disorders such as problem gambling is even more scarce. And it’s not for a lack of need.
Prior to the 2018 removal of a federal ban of sports betting in the United States, an estimated 1.6% of adult residents in Arizona reported having a gambling problem. That number is expected to grow significantly in the near future. Why? Because on April 15 of 2021, Arizona was added to the map of U.S. states with legal sports betting. The bigger problem, is that support from within the state is simply not there. At press, there is a disproportionate lack of funding for support services. For a state that ranks 6th in the nation in terms of money taken in from wagers, Arizona is only ranked 17th in terms of per capita public funds dedicated to problem gambling services.
Arizona ranks 6th in the Nation for wagers taken in, but just 17th for problem gambling funding
Open Access to Gambling Addiction Rehab in Arizona
Up until now, the odds of finding gambling rehab near you in Arizona were slim. That’s about to change, because Kindbridge Behavioral Health has entered the state to provide people, households, groups, organizations, and educational institutions with much-needed help. We have created an affordable, welcoming, and safe virtual environment where clients and patients can take the first step towards rehabilitation and receive full support along the way. Our online problem gambling counseling services include:
In addition to gambling disorder treatment, we provide therapy for related afflictions:
Are you unsure if your problem gambling concern is a match for our services? Or do you have other questions before getting started?
Contact Kindbridge to ask for help.