Ludomania, or pathological gambling addiction, is becoming an increasingly acute social problem, especially among young people. In the Astana City Communications Service, Deputy head of the Astana Public Health Department Ainur Toleuova told about the scale of the problem, the measures taken and the need to prevent ludomania, the official website of the capital's akimat reports.
According to Ainur Toleuova, as of November 1, 2024, only two patients with a diagnosis of "Pathological gambling addiction" were registered at the Astana City Mental Health Center. In Kazakhstan, this number is 12 people.
"One of the key problems is stigmatization. People are afraid to seek help for fear of losing their job or being registered. For this reason, many citizens are treated anonymously in private clinics," Ainur Toleuova said.
She also added that in the fight against ludomania, special attention is paid to educational and explanatory work.
"Ludomania is a problem not only for individuals, but also for society as a whole. The combined efforts of government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the public are needed to combat it. It is especially important to pay attention to young people who are most susceptible to this addiction," said Ainur Toleuova, Deputy Head of the Astana Public Health Department.
According to her, medical institutions are actively working on the diagnosis and treatment of ludomania. Nevertheless, the number of requests for medical and psychological help remains low. To improve the efficiency of work, clinical protocols for diagnosis and treatment have been developed, as well as preventive measures have been introduced for medical institutions and society.
The main signs of ludomania:
- Reduction of time spent with family, deterioration of relationships with loved ones.
- Careless attitude to work, reduced productivity.
- Loss of money at home, the occurrence of financial misunderstandings.
- The growth of debts and loans, the sale of property or requests for loans for the game.
- Emotional changes: irritability, intolerance or, conversely, apathy.
- Loss of interest in previous hobbies.
- Insomnia, fatigue, physical and psychological stress.
"If you notice similar signs in your loved ones, it is important to seek professional help. Admission of psychiatrists and narcologists is carried out in 9 primary psychiatric care centers operating on the basis of polyclinics №2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, as well as in the psychiatric and narcological departments of the City Mental Health Center. Personal data of patients is strictly confidential, assistance is provided anonymously. For advice, you can contact the helpline: 54 76 03," the Deputy head of the Astana Health Department said.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/astana/press/news/details/887971