[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Rehab for gambling addiction pushed’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Friday, June 9, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – Rehabilitation for gambling addiction should be included in the proposed national mental health policy, according to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.
Senate recently approved Senate Bill No. 1354, or the “Philippine Mental Health Act of 2017,” which seeks basic mental health services to communities and psychiatric, psychosocial and neurological services in tertiary and provincial hospitals.
Angara’s remark came in light of the attack in Resorts World Manila that left 38 people dead, including the lone gunman Jessie Carlos, a gambling addict and dismissed tax specialist for the Department of Finance.
“It is not enough that gambling addicts are barred from playing in casinos,” said Angara. “They should be afforded with proper psychological counselling and treatment [for them to] get rehabilitated.”
Carlos — a “high roller” who bets P40,000 at a minimum — was banned from entering all casinos after a request from his family, the National Database of Restricted Persons of the Philippine Games and Amusements Corp. (Pagcor) showed.
Angara, coauthor of the mental health bill, believes that gambling addiction, like substance abuse, can be treated through rehabilitation, therapy, medication, and community intervention.
“To prevent gambling addiction and minimize potential harm, Pagcor is implementing programs to heighten awareness on responsible gaming, such as training of gaming employees on how to spot gambling addicts, information dissemination and advertising, and 24/7 helplines to assist gamers seeking professional help,” he said.
Psychological therapies are costly and thus discourage gambling addicts from seeking professional help, admitted the senator.
But “with the Senate passage of the mental health bill, I am hopeful that gambling rehabilitation will be part of the mental health services and programs that will be integrated in our public health system,” he said./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
