Stand On Your Own: Youth Dialogue on Life Transitions and Gambling Summary Report of April 9, 2013 session with students from Eastern Shore, Duncan MacMillan and Musquodoboit Rural high schools Facilitators: Darren C. Brown and Janet Rhymes (janet.rhymes@ns.sympatico.ca) For Anna Jacobs, Capital District Health Authority 1
1 Introduction On April 9, 2013 a participatory session was held with youth from three Eastern Shore high schools on the topic of youth gambling and life transitions. Session objectives included: o To define gambling and problem gambling o To name the impacts of post-secondary school transitions and celebrate the resiliency of young adults of the Eastern Shore / Musquodoboit Valley o To raise awareness of the risks associated with post-secondary transitions and participation in gambling activities o To state resources available to address problem gambling o To initiate a peer support network to transfer awareness-raising and learning This report is a summary of that session. A summary graphic harvest is appended. Welcome and Inclusion Activity The session was opened with a welcome from Lorrie Boutilier, chairperson of the Eastern Shore - Musquodoboit Community Health Board. Building Inclusion and Community Participants stated their hopes and inspirations for the session, took part in an Inclusion Puzzle activity and generated community norms for discussion. Understanding Gambling A collective understanding of gambling was created by participants. Examples of gambling within youth culture were identified and included: o Claw machines o Trading cards o Betting on activities such as fights, sports or darts o Bingo o Pro-line betting o Stock market o Dares o Scratch and lottery tickets o Roll-up-the-Rim o Supporting fundraising efforts o Poker o VLTs o Carnival games o Horse races 1
2 o Craps o Money pools on TV shows o Slots and arcade games o Online gambling o Substance abuse Youth were invited to share their own definitions of gambling. Taking a chance on something of value without certainty of benefits for you or the people around you. Anything you risk money for to make more profit. Risk taking for entertainment that can result in loss (monetary or otherwise.) The addicting chance to win or lose something, whether it be yours or someone else's. It is a risky bargain with results you can't guarantee. Starts casual, becomes bad. Adds up in the end; not a problem at first. A money-waster that hurts the gambler and those around them. Wasting money on things of chance. Any game of chance of which currency rides on the result. Suggestions as to why youth gamble included: o It is normal and everywhere. o Leisure time activity with benefits and is fun. o Provides one-time satisfaction. o Targets a group of people that need money. o Provides a new form of comfort during times of transition. o Is a rite of passage. o Serves as an escape. Transitions and Resilience Participants represented concepts of post-secondary school transitions, life stressors and resilience through small group body sculptures or short vignettes. These profiled a variety of themes, including: o school - exam - university transitions o responding to rapid change in events, life and emotions o leaving home as a big step for parents and youth o the transition from family care to self-care and increasing responsibility involved o life milestones 2
3 Reflections included: o Changes are not individual--many people are affected. o People may or may not be ready for transitions and change. o There is a range within transitions; some easy and others hard. o Stressful or difficult transitions can lead someone to fall; you may need people for support. o There are pivotal decisions and moments. o You gain knowledge through transitions and develop resilience. o Looking to others for support is helpful. So are setting goals, self-preparation and acceptance of change. Responding to the Risks of Gambling What might help? o Being part of a group for support. o Admitting to your problems. o Seeking support from family or elders. o Taking action; doing something about it. o Seeking professional help: addiction services and counsellors. o Researching options on your own--seeking resources online. o Setting up restrictions on your bank accounts. Gambling Ad-Busting Using gambling ads and antigambling ads for inspiration, participants created and shared awareness-raising posters. Transfer of Awareness and Learning Youth identified next steps for raising awareness of gambling with their schools. Activities included: o Recreating the Game of Life with gambling as the focus. o Reconsidering the prom theme of gambling and gaming. o Raising awareness through the use of PSAs. o Integrating the learning within Health Living classes for grade 7, 8 and 9 students. 3
4 Summary of Participant Evaluation Level of satisfaction with learning workshop: 9.7 / 10 Level of usefulness of learning workshop: 9.1 / 10 Selected comments: I enjoyed the interaction of the conference, it got everyone involved and it was good to get opinions/advice of different people. I learned a lot about the many sources and examples of gambling in our everyday lives and how it is much more common than I thought. I learned ways to educate others and hopefully make a difference. I found the session to be very informative and I learned a lot. All the organizers were great! I thought the organizers had great activities planned and kept everyone engaged and educated. Well done. Great balance from both facilitators! Recommended learning workshops or initiatives that would support youth to realize their dreams and aspirations: - mental health; - substance abuse; - safe sex. 4
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