5.6 How can we reduce stigma in our practice? – Homeless and Gambling Harm Learning

Use person-centred language and avoid labels
Avoid using language that might make people feel blamed or labelled, such as ‘problem gambler.’ Sometimes it helps to be guided by how people refer to themselves and reflect their language when you speak.
Be mindful of how you ask about gambling behaviours
The way we ask questions matters. A roundtable with women in Scotland who gamble flagged that some women don’t identify as ‘gamblers’ despite participating in gambling activities, they identify with the activity.⁶² They would say ‘I go to the bingo‘, instead of ‘I gamble‘.
Get informed
By taking part in this training, you are learning about how a person’s life circumstances and environment shape their likelihood for experiencing gambling harm, mental health conditions and homelessness. Well done!

The constant use of certain words or phrases over time to describe a person or event can be dehumanising, numbing or stigmatising in itself. Language constantly evolves as theory around words develops and people with lived experience of gambling harm or homelessness lead and shape the conversation.

Please find a link to our words matter document. Feel free to print it off!