A new group supporting women experiencing harm from their own gambling is the first of its kind on the island of Ireland.

Extern Problem Gambling’s EmpowerHER Recovery Network provides a completely free and confidential environment where women can seek support for harmful gambling without fear of judgement.

This new service will be led by Claire Donegan, an expert by experience and cognitive behavioral hypnotherapist who has firsthand knowledge of harms from gambling and the challenges faced in recovery.

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Women with problematic gambling will have the opportunity to engage in a personalised and empathetic recovery process. The service aims to empower women by offering them the tools, resources, and emotional support necessary to navigate their journey to recovery and reclaim control over their lives.

Recent research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in 2023 reveals that 2.9% of the adult female population in Ireland is affected by harmful gambling – a figure that has increased tenfold since the previous report in 2019. This alarming rise underscores the urgent need for female-specific support services, as women remain significantly under-represented in current treatment and support networks.

To address these issues, the EmpowerHER Recovery Network was created with the specific needs of women in mind. The service, designed and delivered by individuals with lived experience, provides a range of free supports tailored to women struggling with gambling addiction. The offerings include:

• One-to-One Peer Coaching

• EmpowerHER Recovery Network Group Meetings

• A Comprehensive Recovery Toolkit

• Dedicated Skills Workshops

• Confidential and Non-Judgmental Spaces

To raise awareness of female gambling, Extern have also released a new season of the Problem Gambling Podcast focusing the stories of women whose lives have been affected by harmful gambling.

Barry Grant, a counsellor with Extern Problem Gambling, emphasised the importance of this initiative. He said: “This new service is badly needed in Ireland, in order to reduce stigma around women who experience harm from their own gambling – and to encourage help-seeking.

“When we look at the UK and other parts of the world, there are numerous services for women and many female Experts by Lived Experience, who make it easier for women to seek help, by sharing their stories of recovery from gambling addiction.

“Help-seeking by women, in Ireland, has always been at disproportionately low rates. Currently, only 10% of people who access our counselling service, to work on their own recovery, are women, while recent research from the ESRI found that over 45% of people with gambling problems in Ireland are women.

“We need to make it easier for women to come forward, by creating a safe space for women to share their experiences and by highlighting the specific needs of women seeking recovery.”

Claire Donegan, EmpowerHER Project Lead, said: “I am excited to be leading this new service and to be able to provide a much-needed outlet for women experiencing harm from their own gambling.

“There is so much stigma around gambling because many people don’t understand how this can be addictive behaviour. Women are often afraid to come forward and admit that they are struggling because they are fearful of how they will be judged by others.

“My hope is that by providing this free, safe space, we can help to break down barriers and provide women with the motivation they need to take that first step towards recovery.”

The EmpowerHER Recovery Network is now available to women across Ireland, North and South, providing the support and resources necessary to overcome gambling harm.

For more information or to access services, visit EmpowerHER Recovery Network | Extern

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