Brazil expands gambling addiction awareness with workplace talks and new clinic

The Moda Center shopping complex in Brazil organized four internal lectures to raise awareness of ludopathy, a gambling‑related mental‑health disorder recognized by the World Health Organization. Clinical psychologist Vanessa Chaves presented the emotional, financial and relational impacts of compulsive betting, and participants engaged in interactive activities. The centre highlighted that, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Health, gambling addiction ranks as the third‑largest public‑health problem after alcohol and drug abuse, and pointed workers to free support services such as the Meu SUS Digital app, basic health units and psychosocial care centers.

The Hospital das Clínicas of the University of Campinas (HC Unicamp) opened an open‑access outpatient service within its Psychiatry department to treat individuals with problems related to games and electronic betting. The clinic operates on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. without appointments. Psychiatrist Renata Azevedo, psychologist Maurício Sant’ana and psychiatrist Felipe Santaella noted a rise in cases linked to debt, anxiety, depression and social isolation, especially in São Paulo, which has the highest number of affected bettors in the country.