Gambling: The hardest step a person has to take is acknowledging the problem

Shefali Saxena

Downing Street said the leaders spoke on April 13 and reflected upon the close friendship between the two countries, agreeing that great progress was being made on the 2030 UK-India Roadmap A spokesperson noted: “Discussing ongoing negotiations on a UK-India Free Trade Agreement, the leaders reflected on the huge opportunities a deal would offer to Indian and British businesses and consumers ”

In his update on the interaction, Prime Minister Modi tweeted that Sunak agreed on the need to take “strong action against anti-India elements” and to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK During the phone call, Sunak and Modi also shared best wishes for Vaisakhi, being celebrated in India and among the diaspora in the UK on April 14

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden in Belfast said he was there to “listen” as he had a cup of tea with Prime Minister Rishi S u n a k T h e t w o w o r l d l e a d e r s m e t f o r around 45 minutes, with Mr Sunak telling broadcasters that the pair spoke about the “ i n c r e d i b l e e c o n o m i c o p p o r t u n i t i e s ” f o r Northern Ireland

The Prime Minister described the UK’s relationship with the US as being “in great shape”, describing them as “ very close partners and allies”

The White House said he would use the trip to reaffirm support for the Good Friday Agreement, 25 years after the peace deal was reached, and to encourage the restoration of powersharing – something that collapsed due to the DUP’s protest over post-Brexit rules

Sunak, smiling, sat at a table with the US president as the pair met over cups of tea

A major security operation was in place for Biden’s visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland

India and the UK are natural partners

India and Britain are natural partners in a w orld that is “becom ing more contested and v olatile”, the UK’ s Chief of Defence Staff said o n M ond ay as he beg an a three-day v isit aimed at enh ancing strategic ties

Admiral Tony Radakin held talks with his Indian counterpart, Gen Anil Chauhan, as part of a series of high-level meetings His trip coincides with a visit by the Royal Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, reflecting the importance attached by the UK to the defence and security partnership with India

R a d a k i n a n d C h a u h a n r e v i e w e d t h e progress of the UK-India defence partnership and discussed ways to expand ties in all domains The UK and India share a strong r e l a t i o n s h i p , i n c l u d i n g c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n research, development and training, the UK high commission said in a statement

“India and the UK are natural partners in a world that is becoming more contested and volatile We share many of the same democratic instincts and values and are both committed to the rule of law,” Radakin said

“We are respected military powers, both undergoing significant investment and mod- ernisation and exercising together across, land, sea and air But we can do more ”

T h e m e e t i n g w i t h C h a u h a n w a s a n opportunity to discuss “how we can develop our partnership in a way that benefits our mutual security and prosperity”, he added Radakin also held talks with the Indian Navy chief, Admiral Hari Kumar, the army chief, Gen Manoj Pande, defence secretary Giridhar Aramane and additional secretary for defence production T Natarajan

Radakin will also visit various establishments of the Indian armed forces to boost military-to-military engagement and explore opportunities for the co-creation of future technologies Radakin began his visit by paying homage to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial, ahead of his first meeting with Chauhan

He said his visit to India reflects the UK’s “belief that our security is indivisible from that of the wider world” He added, “As a global trading nation it matters to the UK that the Indo-Pacific is open and free, which is why the British armed forces is establishing the broadest and most integrated presence in the region of any European nation ”

Sunak signifies the power of Lord Ganesha's statuette on his desk at 10 Downing Street

P ri me M i n i s ter R i s hi S un ak has recently explained how he believes in th e si gni ficance of L ord Gan es ha's statuette on hi s d esk at 10 Downin g S treet A c co rd in g t o H i n du bel i efs , G an esh a s ho wers g o od lu ck and blessi ngs In an in tervi ew wi th the ‘Con serv ativ e Home’ websi te ahead of the local electi ons on May 4 recen tly, was asked about the “shrin e ” on hi s desk Sunak explained: “On my desk, I have a Lord Ganesha, w h i c h i s v e r y c o m m o n Generally, when you start a new job or something like that or you take over a new business, typically, you would offer a p r a y e r t o L o r d G a n e s h a because he brings you good luck when you start a new venture

“Actually, when I became Chancellor, I did that So, the G a n e s h a h a s b e e n w i t h m e from the time I was Chancellor and then moved over to my desk at No 10 as well So, that’s why most Indian families will offer prayers to Ganesha at the start of a new job or in a new home, that’s always the first thing you do So, that’s why he’s there ”

A s new GambleAw are data warns that 75% o f peo ple exp eriencing gambling problems feel they can’t open u p to loved ones, the charity is joining forces with a coalition of partners and TV and radio presenter, Tyler West, to launch a campaign to reduce th e stigma faced by th o s e w h o exp e ri enc e g am b li ng harm s and challenge societal perceptions of the issue

One in four of us think we know someone who has experienced problems with their gambling, but three in five (61%) are put off talking to them about it due to concerns a r o u n d s t i g m a A s s o c i a t e P r o f e s s o r , D r J o a n n e L l o y d o u t l i n e s t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l implications of stigma, offering an expert view on why society must acknowledge gambling harms as a public health issue He spoke to Asian Voice about it What kind of help and suppo rt d o you think som eone needs to ov ercome this gambling addiction?

Dr Joanne Lloyd said, “Whether it’s a family member or a friend, being able to open up to someone about what you ’ re going through without being afraid of being judged is so important By finding comfort in them, you can feel more encouraged to seek professional help if needed Alternatively, some people might find it easier to open up to a professional, in confidence, if they are finding it difficult to speak to those who they are close to

“You can search GambleAware or contact the National Gambling Helpline, available 24/7, on 0808 8020 133, for free and confidential advice, tools and support Ensuring you find the right support if you are concerned about your gambling is critical and can play a huge role in stopping someone from developing a gambling disorder No matter how you ’ re feeling, there’s help available from The National Gambling Support Network This is a group of organisations across Great Britain who provide free, confidential and personalised support for anyone who’s experiencing problems from gambling, as well as those affected by someone else’s gambling ”

Devesh Trivedi’s (on an anonymous basis o n l y ) , a m i d d l e - a g e d L o n d o n e r o f S o u t h Asian descent, relationship with gambling began almost as soon as he arrived in the UK from India He gambled through the bookies, casinos and later his phone Over the past 15 years, Devesh lost large sums of money and began to experience suicidal ideation and even attempted suicide twice He explains that in India, gambling is taboo and he felt great shame when seeking help Devesh has been in recovery since 2020 and is now involved in several groups and organisations; he feels no longer in denial about his gambling problem and is keen to help people who share his cultural background and the associated stigma with speaking out Do let us know if you would be interested in speaking to him He spoke to Asian Voice about it What do you think sh ould be d one within Sou th A sian com munities su ch that more people d o no t fall p rey to this?

Devesh: Unfortunately, we know that the topic of gambling is very taboo within South Asian communities, which means it’s more difficult for people suffering from gambling harm to seek help People gambling and experiencing gambling harm can often feel a lot of shame and don’t feel like they can talk to anyone about what they’re going through Religion makes it even more challenging for people to open up about their experiences, as Islam, for example, bans gambling I had a hard time myself talking about what I was going through, mostly due to the societal perceptions about gambling – gambling is illegal in India, so when I tried speaking about it to my family, the first thing they noted was the illegal activity I was partaking in, and how I shouldn’t tell anyone about it One of the main reasons I chose to support this campaign is to raise awareness around this issue within my community and help tackle the stigma around it

Another big challenge for South Asian communities in the UK is the language barrier – most of the GA meetings are in English, which will often be inconvenient for people from South Asian backgrounds Access to GA meetings itself is difficult – compared to the number of bookies available on a high street, GA meetings are few far few, making it harder for people experiencing gambling harms to seek help and support There are however many groups and organisations that cater to people from South Asian backgrounds and that provide invaluable support, which has been a huge help to me and many others from that community

I want to call on anyone experiencing g a m b l i n g h a r m o r w h o k n o w s s o m e o n e going through that to not be afraid to open up a conversation about it It has to start within the community, with friends and families, for the stigma and shame associated with gambling to start breaking down Ho w d id you overcom e yo ur issu es? What d o you think could have been better?

Devesh: My biggest supporters were my family and loved ones – I owe a lot to them and would not have been able to get to this stage without them I really cannot stress enough how helpful it is to talk to your loved ones about the problems you ’ re experiencing – although it may seem difficult and challenging, that first step of communicating with them will help you get closer to recovery More awareness around gambling harms is needed within South Asian communities, and I strongly believe that talking about it more will help with that and will start breaking down the stigma associated with gambling

I would also call for stronger affordability c h e c k s W h e n I w a s g a m b l i n g , m y b a n k would send me several emails checking if I was okay spending significant amounts of money, and I would of course say yes and not hesitate There need to be stricter regulations around that, to ensure vulnerable people aren’t spending money they can’t afford to lose Ho w can one w ork tow ards healing w ithou t carrying th e baggage and shame of being a gam bler?

Devesh: There’s still so much guilt and stigma around gambling, especially within the South Asian community, which makes this an ongoing issue for people suffering from gambling harm

The hardest step a person has to take is acknowledging the problem I know it took me years to get to a place where I was no longer in denial, but I can confidently say that once I got to that stage, asking for help became easier I have been in recovery since 2020 and want to help as many people as I can from my community by speaking out

I would encourage anyone suffering from gambling harm to lean on someone they trust for help It can be as simple as starting conversations with loved ones, seeking professional support or going to organisations and groups that can help – by opening up about your experience, you are getting one step closer to recovery