Kindbridge & Axis Integrated Mental Health to Bolster Gambling Addiction Treatment in CO

Kindbridge Behavioral Health, a Denver-based mental health service provider dedicated to supporting people with problem gambling, announced a new partnership with Axis Integrated Mental Health, one of Colorado’s top mental health clinics.

The tie-up is set to expand access to problem gambling treatment in the Centennial State.

The Deal Will Create a Clear Pathway for Harmed Individuals

According to Kindbridge’s announcement, the new partnership will create a “clear pathway” for harmed individuals and their loved ones to seek gambling addiction therapy or advanced psychiatric treatment like Deep TMS and Spravato, where therapy alone is insufficient.

The partnership with Axis Integrated comes amid growing problem gambling rates in Colorado. The state launched legal sports betting in 2020, leading to a significant spike in participation. Over the past few years, the annual betting handle in the state has skyrocketed to $6.3 million, which is almost three times what it was when the market launched. While this highlights higher participation and popularity of betting, it also implies that some players might be spending more money than they did before.

The convenience of mobile betting has made it easier for players to gamble wherever they are, leading to an increase in harm. Recent research suggests that roughly 5% of Colorado’s gamblers are at risk of harm, underscoring the importance of increasing access to safer gambling tools and problem gambling treatment.

Advanced Therapy and Additional Treatment Will Help Struggling Coloradoans

According to Kindbridge’s announcement, Colorado has already made significant investments in problem gambling prevention and education. However, many mental health services in the state are not yet fully equipped with the tools and knowledge to tackle problem gambling and the accompanying conditions associated with it (depression, ADHD, PTSD, trauma, etc.).

That’s why the partnership between Kindbridge and Axis Integrated will ensure that the latter body is able to provide its patients with best-in-class treatment.

The announcement clarified that the partnership will combine Kindbridge’s problem gambling expertise with Axis’s track record in offering advanced psychiatric care. As mentioned, where therapy proves insufficient, Axis will offer Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or Spravato. The former is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment seeking to strengthen an individual’s impulse control. The latter is an esketamine-based FDA-approved nasal spray designed to tackle severe depression – a symptom that is often associated with excessive gambling.

Problem Gambling Is Often Misunderstood

Daniel Umfleet, Kindbridge’s CEO, highlighted the importance of tackling gambling harm due to the severe misconceptions associated with the condition. However, he was optimistic that the partnership will provide relief to many struggling individuals in Colorado.  

Gambling disorder is one of the most misunderstood behavioral health conditions, but it is highly treatable with the right care. This partnership makes it easier for Colorado families to take action quickly and access specialized treatment that matches the true complexity of the problem.

Daniel Umfleet, CEO, Kindbridge

Liesl Perez, co-founder of Axis Integrated Mental Health, was similarly pleased with the tie-up, since it would provide compulsive gamblers with a clear place to start.

This partnership makes it easier for people to start care easily with specialized therapy, then access cutting-edge treatments that can deliver better results than just medication or therapy alone.

Liesl Perez, co-founder, Axis Integrated Mental Health

In the meantime, individuals in Colorado can access Kindbridge’s gambling addiction therapy statewide via telehealth, too.