Ravensview launches specialized gambling addiction program

Homewood Health’s Ravensview centre in North Saanich has launched a specialized inpatient gambling disorder program. This initiative aims to address a critical treatment gap in Canada, as the facility is one of the few of its kind in the country to offer such specialized care.

The program provides inpatient treatment, typically lasting between six and nine weeks. Clinical operations manager Craig Extine noted that gambling addiction can involve complex emotional rushes, tension, and dissociative experiences. Treating the disorder is often complicated by associated financial issues and underlying mental health challenges, such as trauma or other addictions.

The launch comes amid rising concerns regarding gambling accessibility. Data from an Ontario study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicated that gambling-related outreach to mental health helplines among young men increased by more than 300 percent following the expansion of privatized gambling options in that province.