Media Release: Plan to attend virtual “Youth Gambling and Gaming” parent info session on October 29

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and Homewood Health Centre will host a virtual parent information session on “Youth Gambling and Gaming” on October 29 from 7-8 p.m. The session will be hosted by WDG Public Health Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum and Sylvie Smith, a therapist specializing in addiction and mental health at Homewood Health Centre. The hosts will discuss the impact of gaming and gambling on youth, offer tips on how to talk to youth about the issue and answer questions from attendees. Alternatively, questions can be submitted prior to the event via an online form before 9 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024.

“Like many parents, I have been watching the growth of gambling and gaming – especially among young people,” said Dr. Tenenbaum. “This is a complex issue that can have serious impacts on youth. I look forward to providing parents and caregivers with information they can use to help inform decisions and support the young people in their lives to make healthy decisions.”

Sylvie Smith says “as a parent and therapist, I worry how the overlap of gaming and gambling might further lead to gambling and gaming becoming a way of coping rather than simply being entertainment. Understanding the risks, motivation for gaming and warning signs can help us mitigate the potential issues. Learning together about how game design can influence youth (and even adults) can help us parent in a way that has traction and success.” 

For more information or to register, visit wdgpublichealth.ca/YouthGamblingGamingEvent.

While this session is primarily intended for parents and caregivers of youth, Public Health welcomes anyone from the WDG community to attend. For those unable to attend, a recording of the event and a summary of answers to any questions will be available following the event at wdgpublichealth.ca.

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