Online gambling has been increasing.. With betting apps surging in popularity, it has become easy to start online gambling, which can lead to mental health consequences.
The Pierce College Student Health Center should prepare to help students who are going through the consequences of online gambling and support them while they battle this addiction.
Online betting is starting to become more normal for college students. Approximately three out of four college students got involved with gambling over this past year, according to Addiction Center. With the majority of students being a part of Generation Z, social media marketing is playing a big role in the recent surge of betting apps, in particular sports gambling apps.
According to Addiction Center, more than $268 billion has been wagered on sports alone between 2018 and 2023, with an estimated $3 billion of the profits going to advertisement across all social media platforms. Given this, it is probable that Pierce College has a high amount of students that are experiencing gambling addiction.
By introducing support meetings and gambling addiction counseling , the Student Health Center can improve mental health and academic performance. These types of gambling addiction resources can be advertised with signs around campus.
In most cases, counselors realize that students have a gambling addiction only because they have another problem affecting their mental health, according to Time Magazine.
Pierce should acknowledge the problem, because even if gamblers are aware of the struggle and want to fix it, they likely won’t be successful without the help of others. According to the National Library of Medicine, out of 40 gamblers who tried to stop or reduce gambling, 80% remained gamblers.
Students suffering an addiction are more probable to not come forward if there isn’t a program for them. If students are aware of a program on campus that can help with their addiction, such as Gamblers Anonymous, then they will be more encouraged to step up and seek effective help.