A first-of-its-kind Irish study of coroners’ files has found that people who died by suicide and had gambling documented in their coronial records often faced a complex mix of mental health, financial, and social challenges – highlighting gambling as a significant factor in suicide risk.

This is the first research of its kind in Ireland to use coronial records to explore the link between gambling and suicide.  This was a joint initiative between the Institute of Public Health, the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Research Foundation and the HRB.

The study analysed data from the Irish Probable Suicide Death Study (IPSDS), which reviewed 3,625 deaths between 2015 and 2020. Of these, 23 cases included references to gambling.

The depth of analysis paints a stark picture of the vulnerabilities faced by these individuals and the loss of each, is a personal tragedy for their families, friends and communities.

A complex web of risk

The average age of those studied was 39 years. Most were men, and almost half were parents. Over half had engaged with health services before their death, including GPs and mental health professionals.

The researchers identified two categories of risk factors:

  • Long-term risks included mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. Substance use – especially cocaine and alcohol – was common. Some had a history of suicidal behaviour. Social isolation, adverse childhood experiences, and chronic illness were also noted.
  • Short-term risks around the time of death included acute mental distress, recent inpatient discharge, financial problems specifically linked to gambling, relationship breakdowns, substance intoxication, work stress, and legal issues.

These findings align with international research showing that gambling-related harm often co-exists with other serious risk factors for suicide.

Hidden and underreported risk

Gambling history is not routinely documented in coronial investigations, meaning the stigma and the hidden nature of gambling may lead to under-reporting. This means the true scale of gambling-related suicide risk could be significantly higher.

Importantly, the study does not claim a direct causal link between gambling and suicide. Instead, it shows that gambling often exists within a broader context of vulnerability, acting as a compounding factor in already high-risk situations.

New strategy

With Ireland preparing a new national suicide prevention strategy, the report argues that gambling must be recognised as a key area for intervention, with improved data collection on gambling harms and support for policies that address the full spectrum of suicide risk factors.

In summary, the study points to the need for a public health approach to reducing gambling harm embedded in a wide range of policy areas including mental health, men’s health, substance use, online safety, and suicide prevention.

ENDS

* The Irish Probable Suicide Death Study (IPSDS) reviewed coronial files from 2015–2020 to identify probable suicides based on civil standards of proof. It includes both officially determined and research-assessed cases. IPSDS is a key resource for suicide prevention research in Ireland.

Reynolds CME, Cox G, Lyons S, McAvoy H, O’Connor L and Kavalidou K (2025) A qualitative analysis of people who died by suicide and had gambling documented in their coronial file. Addict Behav, 163: 108267