County Durham dad calls for better support for gambling problems
A third of gamblers in the North East say they'd hide the habit from their colleagues.
A recovering gambling addict from County Durham says employers must provide more support for people struggling with the problem.
32-year-old Michael O'Grady from Middlesbrough says he contemplated suicide after losing what he believes to be around ÂŁ250,000.
The dad-of-three, who now lives in Bowburn, says people with a gambling problem don't get the same support as those with other addictions.
It's as new research by polling company YouGov found that 35% of people in the North East would hide their gambling from colleagues.
Almost two thirds of us here have gambled in the last 12 months - the highest figures in the UK.
The report claims gambling is affecting the UK economy, with 3% of people knowing someone who has lost a job as the result of a gambling problem.
Michael says employers should have welfare systems in place like they would for substance addictions.
He said: "If the person isn't going to reach out the company how are they going to know?
"There's no way on earth you'd know what I'd gone through with gambling, it's so easy to cover it up until it reaches critical point.
"If they could approach and give you a bit of support and understanding of what you're going through.
"Maybe accomodate you with a bit of time off to see a doctor or attend a meeting.
"There's a natural urge to keep it a secret, the only time I wanted to come out and tell people was when I started my recovery.
"It's not good to be working when your head is doing 100 miles an hour.
Martin Fallon, Managing Director of Reed in Partnership said: “It’s important that we provide adequate support and guidance for those who are at risk of losing their jobs because of gambling, and those whose addiction is stopping them from getting back into the workplace. “At the same time Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, which are particularly attractive to the unemployed, have such high limits that you could lose one month’s worth of Job Seeker’s Allowance in less than one minute.”
If you need help with a gambling problem, you can find your local GA group at http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk.