Walk in Memory/Walk for Hope – September 14, 2019
Walk in Memory/Walk for Hope- Sept 14, 2019 7:30AM, Bob Miller Middle School, 2400 Cozy Circle, Henderson, Nevada
Lanie’s Hope Walk Team
Lanie’s Hope’s proudly supports the Walk in Memory/Walk for Hope. We walk to remember those who have been lost to suicide, to honor the family members and survivors, and to shine a light of hope for those who may be considering suicide. Compulsive Gamblers have the HIGHEST suicide rate of any group, with 1 in 5 compulsive gamblers considering or attempting suicide.
In 2014, the walk was dedicated to raising awareness of gambling addiction and suicide. I was honored and humbled to serve as the keynote speaker. I made a promise to myself and to God to spend my life raising awareness of the social issues surrounding problem gambling. I would do ANYTHING within my power to prevent just one death due to a gambling related suicide. Lanie’s Hope’s website gets more “hits” on the topic of “suicide” than any other topic. Compulsive gamblers who are struggling are reaching out for help. Suicide is obviously on the minds of too many compulsive gamblers! Won’t you please walk with us this year, and raise awareness of gambling addiction and suicide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh9B5udpxKw
I invite each of you to walk with us on Saturday, September 15, 2018, as we take suicide and gambling addiction out of the darkness and into the light.
Blessings,
Walk in Memory/Walk for Hope -Sept 15, 2018
Walk in Memory/Walk for Hope- Sept 15, 2018 8AM, Bob Miller Middle School, 2400 Cozy Circle, Henderson, Nevada
Lanie’s Hope Walk Team
Lanie’s Hope’s proudly supports the Walk in Memory/Walk for Hope. We walk to remember those who have been lost to suicide, to honor the family members and survivors, and to shine a light of hope for those who may be considering suicide. Compulsive Gamblers have the HIGHEST suicide rate of any group, with 1 in 5 compulsive gamblers considering or attempting suicide.
In 2014, the walk was dedicated to raising awareness of gambling addiction and suicide. I was honored and humbled to serve as the keynote speaker. I made a promise to myself and to God to spend my life raising awareness of the social issues surrounding problem gambling. I would do ANYTHING within my power to prevent just one death due to a gambling related suicide. Lanie’s Hope’s website gets more “hits” on the topic of “suicide” than any other topic. Compulsive gamblers who are struggling are reaching out for help. Suicide is obviously on the minds of too many compulsive gamblers! Won’t you please walk with us this year, and raise awareness of gambling addiction and suicide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh9B5udpxKw
I invite each of you to walk with us on Saturday, September 15, 2018, as we take suicide and gambling addiction out of the darkness and into the light.
Blessings,
Bea Aikens
Kindly consider “wearing our colors” and proudly identifying yourself as part of “Team Lanie’s Hope!” T-shirts and apparel are available on the “Merchandise” page.
Hopeless case
I have struggled with compulsive gambling for 20 years. Casinos, bingo, and lottery tickets have destroyed me. I always saw the lottery as my only way of ever making it in life. I have been in therapy for years going faithfully trying to find the answer to my problems. I have suffered a lifetime of abuse from school bullying to my brothers verbally abusing me all my life. I have tried medication, therapy, electric shock therapy, and 12 step meetings. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have struggled with suicidal ideation for years. I am getting to the point of coming to terms with just no hope in sight. Years of gambling have taken it’s toll. I now am 47 and severely overweight from the stress of nothing working out for so long. I am tired and just don’t have it in me to try anymore. I have come to the point of thinking that things are out to screw me and I never had a chance in life. I am the only one in my family that never had a career or made less than 60,000 a year.
Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention month. Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate of all addictions and the statistics do not reflect that many of these suicides are mistakenly reported as single-car accidents, wrong-way drivers, heart attacks, cerebral stem strokes (from an overdose of anti-depressants), and so forth. This is a true story of two friends of mine, who both planned their suicides down to the last detail and thankfully, both survived. The names and details have been changed to protect their identities, but the stories and devastation are true.
Mary, a 60 year old psychologist became so depressed with her inability to stop gambling, an activity that was consuming her every moment and thought, that she had to stop seeing patients because she no longer cared about their problems. Her husband, her one true love had become ill and diagnosed with dementia, as well as complications due to a congenital heart defect and diabetes. She had her own physical limitations due to severe crippling from rheumatoid arthritis. Mary had 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren- the light of her life. All that being said, Mary still could not tear herself away from the video poker machines to get home and check on her husband. She missed many of the grandchildren’s recitals and sporting events because she had hit another jackpot. Her children stopped telling the grandchildren that she would be there because of their disappointment and sadness of being let down, over and over. Mary found herself unable to concentrate and many times after hours of gambling could not recall how she actually drove home. Read more →
Gambling Addiction Suicide
Suicide, attempted suicide and suicidal ideation is common among compulsive gamblers. By the time the devastation of the disease reaches the tipping point in a pathological gambler’s life they face grave financial problems, their families and relationships are in ruin, self-esteem has been decimated and a sense of helplessness and hopelessness is pervasive. Generally, by the time an addicted gambler “reaches bottom,” every aspect of their life has been destroyed. Suicide is all too common in those afflicted with the disease of compulsive gambling.