A specialist programme, developed by the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), Betknowmore UK and Bournemouth University to support health professionals, has received formal accreditation from the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
The Mindful Resilience programme equips health professionals, including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, social prescribers and mental health workers, with the knowledge and understanding required to identify, support and refer vulnerable people who are experiencing or at risk of harms related to gaming and gambling. Following a robust review process, the RSPH has formally accredited the training, verifying its high standards.
YGAM and Betknowmore teamed up with academics from Bournemouth University to design and launch the training programme in 2021. The training content was developed with input from psychologists and informed by academics, health professionals, and individuals with lived experience. The programme also promotes signposting to the National Treatment Network and NHS for patients needing support.
Dr Sarah Hodge, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology, who worked on the training programme, said: “Awareness is needed around gaming and gambling in children and young people, as it is an activity that they engage with which has the potential for challenges and harms.
“In addition, practitioners and many other stakeholders who work with children and young people have reported a feeling of a lack of training and awareness of gaming and gambling in this age group.”
The RSPH is an independent health education charity and the world’s oldest public health body. Its accreditation centre has been running services continuously since 1904, helping to improve standards in public health across the nation.
Caroline Gallagher, Director of Compliance & Quality Assurance at YGAM, said: “The RSPH accreditation is significant because it demonstrates the training content and delivery is of an exceptional standard and brings confidence and credibility for our audience.
"This recognition further evidences the importance and benefits of collaboration when producing impactful resources.”
The stamp of approval from the RSPH follows public endorsement for the Mindful Resilience programme from the Shadow Minister for Mental Health. Dr Rosena Alin-Khan MP, herself a London-based medical doctor, described the programme as ‘pioneering’.
The Mindful Resilience Programme is available free of charge to all health professionals in the London area.
For more information, please visit the YGAM website.
