With March Madness just around the corner, Choices Treatment Center in Lincoln along with the National Council on Problem Gambling is recognizing March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month.  This year’s theme is “Seeking Understanding” and focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition.

The campaign seeks to foster greater awareness and empathy, break down barriers to treatment and provide support for individuals and families impacted by gambling-related harm.  “Choices is committed to ensuring the public understands what the signs of problem gambling are, and most importantly, the resources that are available to get help,” says Deb Hammond, Choices Treatment Center Director.

“Our staff is committed to ensuring Nebraskans gain a greater understanding of problem gambling in order to reduce stigma around this struggle.”  Problem gambling is defined as behaviors that disrupt or damage personal, family, or professional lives and it affects millions of Americans.

Nationally, nearly 2.5 million U.S. adults meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem with an additional 5-8 million individuals experiencing mild to moderate gambling problems. Throughout March, Choices Treatment Center will host various activities to educate the community and spark meaningful conversations around problem gambling.

They include problem gambling screening events on college campuses, along with presentations and table sessions at other public locations throughout the state. Those events are opportunities for populations more susceptible to problem gambling, as well as the general public, to find out more about problem gambling, information on how to avoid gambling-related harm, and resources for free problem gambling treatment provided by the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.1800gamblerchat.org. Within Nebraska, call the Nebraska Gambling Helpline at 1-833-238-6837 (1-833-BET-OVER) or visit https://problemgambling.nebraska.gov/.

Help is available 24/7/365 and it is free and confidential.