Why are we conducting the SAGE 2 Study?
And why should you take part?
Why are we looking at Gambling?
Gambling is a common pastime in the UK. Whether it is the National Lottery, betting on football, playing poker with friends, playing roulette in a casino, or gambling in another form, around 50% of adults in the UK will have gambled within the last 4 weeks.
Gambling is considered a growing public health issue in the UK as the consequences can be far-reaching and devastating to the gambler and others close to them. The negative financial impacts of gambling are easy to understand with losses stacking up, made worse by then trying to win the money back. However, gambling can also lead to relationships breaking down, poor performance at work, and an increase in mental health problems and despair. In some cases, this has lead to people taking their own lives.
Why are we looking at the Military?
In our first SAGE study, conducted across the three branches of the Armed Forces in the UK, we found that 72% had gambled, with 23% experiencing some form of gambling-related harm. Personnel spoke about feeling ashamed of their gambling and stigmatised when they tried to seek support. The current pathways to support are not clear, and depending on who people turned to meant that people were either incorrectly signposted, or told that they might be discharged from their role entirely. Whilst this isn’t likely, it is clear that better support and awareness of the support that is out there is needed.
Why are we looking at Phase 2?
Our research also found that the factors that predicted gambling harm most in Armed Forces personnel were being: of younger age, early on in their careers, and of lower rank. These demographics most closely describe those in Phase 2 training. We want to explore what is happening in this group in more detail, in order to understand how they can best be supported.
Andy's Story
Hear more about Andy’s story below (this video is 5m47s).
Why should I take part?
Whether you gamble or not, we want to hear from you about your experiences during your training. This will help us to better understand why some personnel might start to struggle with behaviours, like gambling, at this stage and what can be done to help.
This study will help both the Royal Navy, and Ministry of Defence, by outlining what you are experiencing during training, how best to support you, and how to ensure you have a healthy career in the Navy.
Will you share my results with anyone?
We will not share your data with the Ministry of Defence or Royal Navy and will not disclose your answers to any questions covered by this research such as: gaming, gambling, drug taking, alcohol use, or smoking. We do share averaged and anonymised statistics to them, but you will not be identifiable. If it is clear that you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, we may have to let someone in the Royal Navy know, in order to ensure you are safe and supported.
What will I be doing?
The SAGE 2 study is comprised of three parts: the survey, 1:1 interviews, and testing an online platform. At the end of the survey you will have an option to leave your contact details to take part in the other two parts of the study. If you take part in either the interviews or the platform testing, we will give you a £20 shopping voucher as our means of thanking you for your time. If you take part in both the interviews and platform testing, you will receive both vouchers.
The anonymous survey takes an average of 13 minutes to complete.
It asks about lifestyle behaviours e.g., gaming, gambling, alcohol, smoking. It also asks about your mental health. We want to understand more about your wellbeing and this will help us to help others.
The interviews last around 30-45 minutes.
They will discuss your gambling and gaming experiences in more detail, as well as any support you may have sought.
Your experiences are important in helping us think about why some personnel have difficulties and when, and what would be the best support for them.
You will be given a £20 shopping voucher as a thank you for taking part.
These will also be 1:1 interviews and will last around 30 minutes.
We will show you a support platform that we have developed to help personnel who might be experiencing difficulties with gambling.
You will help us work out how to best help and signpost personnel to support services.
You will be given a £20 shopping voucher as a thank you for taking part.
milgam@swansea.ac.uk
