When gambling leads to borrowing money and persistent low mood, call 12356 first and then hand over your bank cards and payment passwords to family members

Cost: No cost involved. Simply make one phone call and give your bank cards, payment passwords, and gambling apps to a family member. The hardest part is admitting that you’ve lost control over your gambling behavior.

In plain terms: Individuals who have sought treatment for gambling problems are 15 times more likely to die by suicide and 1.8 times more likely to die overall compared to their peers. Depression serves as a key warning sign for potential suicide. Therefore, if you find yourself gambling despite owing money and feeling persistently down, call 12356 right away.

Benefit: A nationwide Swedish registry study examined 2,099 individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder between 2005 and 2016. Gambling disorder is defined as an inability to control gambling habits, which negatively impacts daily life. Compared to the general Swedish population aged 20–74, these individuals showed a 1.8-fold increase in overall mortality and a 15-fold increase in suicide mortality (these figures represent standardized mortality ratios). Over the follow-up period, 67 participants died, including 21 from suicide. Depression proved to be a reliable predictor of suicide risk. In a 2023 correction, researchers reported that the suicide risk was 12.1 times higher for men and 16.1 times higher for women. Starting May 1, 2025, China launched a nationwide mental health hotline at 12356, available at least 18 hours per day.

Evidence grade: B

Sources:Karlsson A, Håkansson A. (2018). Gambling disorder, increased mortality, suicidality, and associated comorbidity: A longitudinal nationwide register study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7(4), 1091–1099. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.112；Karlsson A, Håkansson A. (2023). Corrigendum to: Gambling disorder, increased mortality, suicidality, and associated comorbidity. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 12(1), 302. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.10000；国家卫生健康委 (2024). 关于应用"12356"全国统一心理援助热线电话号码的通知（国卫医政函〔2024〕259 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6994470.htm

Notes: This grade is assigned because only one study exists, and it includes only individuals who sought specialist care — a group with relatively severe conditions. Consequently, the 15-fold suicide risk increase cannot be generalized to all gamblers. Handing over financial control to family members is a widely practiced approach, though lacking direct research support; thus it receives a C grade. Legal boundaries regarding gambling are outlined in Section 9, Article 13 (prohibiting bookmaking and online gambling). Whether family members should repay gambling debts incurred by a spouse is discussed in Section 8, Article 44 (such debts do not qualify as joint marital obligations). For guidance on responding to suicidal thoughts, refer to Section 37, Article 32 (inform a trusted person immediately). The primary beneficiaries are the gamblers themselves; however, family members who notice warning signs can also encourage them to follow these steps.