Gambling addictions and financial pressure, fueled by loneliness and isolation are pushing young people in the Southern Highlands to breaking point according to a mental health expert.

Alice Richards, who works as a Clinical Integration Manager at Community Links Wellbeing, said uncertainty around COVID on top of financial and social distress was highlighting the need for action in one of the most depressed regions in the district.

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"Wingecarribee has the highest rate of male youth suicide for the whole of South-Western Sydney," she told the Southern Highland News.

"There is data from the local health district that highlights how distressed we are down here. The Southern Highlands has huge stigma and is overrepresented in lack of understanding about mental health concerns.

"Presentations to hospital for young women for self-harm and young men with suicidal ideation is huge down here. I think what that shows is just how isolated people are.

"A big part of that is there isn't much for young people to do and also just transport. If you're on a farm in Exeter or Bundanoon it's very hard to get anywhere and feel connected. Isolation kills, loneliness kills."

That isolation has been amplified over the past 18 months with young people of all genders seeking an escape from a daily situation that often seems grim.

Richards, who helps run the free Re-Frame service in Bowral, said this often manifested itself in young men as gambling.

As well as causing financial pressure, problem gambling can often reinforce negative gender stereotypes and further amplify mental health problems.

"Certainly addiction to gambling and financial stress are huge things that come through, particularly in young men," she explained.

"It's so ingrained in Australian culture. Alcohol misuse and gambling addictions are hugely prevalent and also really normalised. The footy is a great example of that.

"Australian culture really celebrates drinking and having a punt. You look at the culture of ANZAC day, those two things are celebrated interspersed with this idea of the great Australian hero. So in terms of toxic masculinity and all the kinds of expectations of gender roles and what young men 'should' be, it's really encouraged particularly in rural and regional Australia.

"This idea of the stoic man who goes out and does these things. We know that it causes huge negative health impacts and the breakdown of relationships."

With temptations such as betting and online shopping now mixed with instant loan providers such as Beforepay or Wallet Wizard, Richards said it was harder than ever for young people to remain in control.

"What we know is that when people are in distress they look for ways to escape," she said.

"A lot of people try to numb their feelings and disengage and because we carry phones around in our pockets that's how we numb, we scroll.

"When young women come through, that's what they're doing. Escaping through influencers and social media. For young men it's escaping to these online games which have that betting integrated.

"Now we're not able to play poker together, we're playing online, next thing you know we're playing against the computer in our own time on our own. Next thing you know we're doing small loans and betting money away.

"I was talking to someone last week who did that and thought, 'shit, there goes my entire COVID payment.' It's never been easier at the touch of a button to gamble but also to have access to money that we don't own."

But far from joining the queue in calling for more regulation, Richards said the solution lies in treating issues like gambling as symptoms of a greater problem.

"These are all symptoms of distress. Most people come to us with a problem. Underlying that problem is isolation, lack of connection.

"In terms of how we deal with this, it's not so much about dealing with the symptoms, it's about dealing with the underlying issue.

"Human beings are social creatures who need purpose, meaning and hope. Now more than ever that hope is under threat because of the uncertainty of COVID and restrictions means that people are finding it very hard to have any certainty or routine.

"That's what we deal with rather than the symptoms of something like gambling."

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