Give us your views on gambling and the harm it can cause  

Published Tuesday, 11th March 2025

Residents in Hartlepool are being invited to take part in a survey to share their views and experiences of gambling and the negative impact it can have.

The Gambling-Related Harms Survey – which is anonymous and is being run by Hartlepool Borough Council and Newcastle University – is aimed at gaining an understanding of people in Hartlepool who may be at risk of harm through gambling in order to shape support and advice for them.

Gambling addiction is a mental health condition, however many people don’t recognise that they have a gambling addiction.

It’s estimated that between 240 and 700 people take their own life each year in England due to gambling-related issues, with a further 69,000 suffering from depression.

In the North-East, it’s estimated that almost 5% of the population aged 16-plus are experiencing some form of negative consequences due to gambling.

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Gambling addiction can wreck the finances, health and lives of not just individuals but their family too.

“Giving people an opportunity to talk about their experiences through surveys like this can help more people understand how gambling might be impacting them and therefore help them recognise that they are experiencing harm from gambling before it becomes an addiction.

“It will also play a vital part in helping us develop future health and related support services for those affected, so I hope as many people as possible will spare a couple of minutes to take part in this very important survey and share their experiences and views with us.”

You can take part in the survey at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/gambling-survey. It runs until Friday 16th May.