A former Armagh GAA star Oisin McConville who has battled issues with gambling has told how he hopes to help “reduce the stigma” of the issue.
The Wicklow manager is an ambassador for the Gambling Awareness Trust.
The charity reveal that four people a day across Ireland reached out to the support group in the first six months of this year.
A total of 835 people called their helpline, while 1,171 people indirectly affected by a person’s gambling were also supported.
Mr McConville, a former Armagh All-Ireland winner, described the figures as “quite startling”.
“The figures when you whittle it down is four people every day getting in contact and one of those is going into residential treatment as a result of their gambling addiction, which I thought was quite startling,” he told The Irish News.
“This is just a six month figure, if you do that over the year, the figures are quite high.
“It is about making people realise that if they have a gambling issue, you don’t have to label it as an addiction, they are not on their own, there is help out there – it’s free and it’s available.
“This is an all-island issue, it doesn’t matter if you are north or south, you can still phone the number.”
The charity, which was established in 2018, aims to reduce gambling harm by helping people access specialist therapeutic support services easily, quickly and free.
As an ambassador, Mr McConville will help to create films, interviews, podcasts and educational content in a bid to reduce the stigma around problem gambling.
He has already been involved with an awareness campaign, which features two other GAA personalities Conn Kilpatrick of Tyrone and Richie Power for Kilkenny.
It aims to encourage anyone affected to take the first step and reach for help.
“That’s exactly what we wanted to achieve,” he said.
“We want people to understand they are not alone, and that help is available.
“I’m looking forward to supporting the Gambling Awareness Trust to deliver that message and to reduce the stigma around gambling addiction in Ireland.”
Pam Bergin from the Gambling Awareness Trust said: “Oisin has been incredibly supportive of the work we do, acknowledging the wide range of supports available to anyone needing help be they the person experiencing gambling addiction or their family and friends.
“We are confident that anyone who needs help can get the support they need through our network of services.”
The Gambling Awareness Trust. If anyone needs support call the Helpline 1800-936-725 or go to www.gamblingcare.ie