Active duty service members and veterans in Colorado are being provided with mental health and responsible gambling resources with the launch of a new initiative.
The Kindbridge Research Institute announced on Monday the debut of Stigma Stand Down (SSD), an initiative in Colorado aimed at combating mental health and gambling-related issues faced by active duty service members, veterans and their families.
Kindbridge is offering resources to Colorado service members and veterans with gambling disorder, which is 3.5 times more prevalent in service members and veterans compared to civilians. According to Kindbridge, SSD provides resources to a Colorado market that is home to more than 60,000 active duty and reserve military personnel.
Kindbridge is launching SSD with the help of grants from FanDuel and the Colorado Division of Gaming.
“Stigma is a silent enemy that leaves our service members and veterans isolated, harming their families, units, and mission readiness,” said Kindbridge Director of Programming Mark Lucia. “Stigma Stand Down is our frontline response: dismantling shame and delivering free, confidential, evidence-based care designed for military realities.”
Kindbridge’s new initiative will provide military personnel with mental health and gambling disorder education through webinars, videos and online courses. The institute is also teaming up with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to offer free mental health support. The support will be powered by Kindbridge Behavioral Health’s telehealth services.
Kindbridge plans to spread awareness of SSD through a multifaceted advertising campaign that will deploy geographically targeted ads featuring military personnel. A self-assessment tool, the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen, will also be available to participants.
Kindbridge establishes military-focused committee
Kindbridge debuted an RG initiative for military personnel in Colorado after creating the Military Gambling Awareness Committee in June, providing America’s military community with resources to handle gambling-related challenges. The committee collaborates with the Department of Defense to identify gaps in policy.
The committee is chaired by Lucia with advisers who include former Marine and BetMGM Director of Responsible Gambling Richard Taylor and U.S. Naval Academy graduate and NASCAR Senior Managing Director of Sports Betting Joe Solosky.
