A center for social and psychological support for people with gambling addiction, “Space of Life,” has opened in the capital. Starting today, both players noticing symptoms of gambling addiction and their loved ones can seek help. “The goal of the space is not only to treat. We want to create a mental field in society where gambling is perceived as a form of leisure for emotional enjoyment.
It should not be a means of earning money or an essential part of life that becomes a habit. We want people to view gambling like a trip to the movies or a café, with limited budgets and time,” asserts Konstantin Aimedov, the head of the medical direction at the Responsible Gaming Center. He adds that the “Space of Life” plans to implement a family-oriented approach instead of a client-centered one, helping the entire family. After all, addiction places a burden on the family, the environment, and the individual’s microsociety.
The center’s task is to identify individuals with addiction and accompany them over an extended period. According to Tatiana Synitska, the head of the psychological direction, they plan to work with several categories of people. “First and foremost, psychological support is needed for individuals who do not have a formed addiction but exhibit certain symptoms. A person can receive support, recover, and gain stress resilience skills through group work,” she says. The next category includes people with addiction. Psychologists will conduct diagnostics and analyze the underlying causes, as addiction is often rooted in psychological difficulties—unmet needs and family relationships.
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“The main problem for those with addiction is: today I want to recover, but tomorrow I think, ‘Everything seems fine.’ A person needs to develop motivation and realize that life can be brighter,” says the psychologist. Next, they need to help enhance stress resilience, emotional intelligence, and assist in reintegrating into society. Another category includes relatives of problem gamblers. On one hand, they want to help, but on the other, they may suffer from codependency and hinder recovery. “Distance work will help reach more people. We may develop support programs that many Ukrainians could benefit from,” says the psychologist.
Project manager and lawyer Lyubomyr Pityel notes that the center will focus on comprehensive assistance. Many problem gamblers and their relatives also face legal issues. One common request is assistance in adding an individual’s name to the Register of Players Excluded from Gambling. It may also be crucial to prevent someone from accumulating debt through microloans. “At the end of 2023, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law allowing restrictions on individuals’ access to credit if they use borrowed money for betting. There is no procedure in place yet, but we hope that KRAIL will implement it by April 1,” says Pityel. If you found this publication helpful and interesting, we recommend subscribing to our latest gambling news to receive notifications about the latest updates and stay informed about current events.
