Revealing the struggle for silence: Tinnitus UK highlights the alarming mental health crisis amid a void of support
A new report from leading charity Tinnitus UK has revealed the impact tinnitus has on the mental health and lives of those with the condition.
Tinnitus UK provides information and support for individuals living with tinnitus in the United Kingdom.
Ahead of Tinnitus Week this year (which runs from 5th to 11th February 2024), Tinnitus UK surveyed 478 people with tinnitus. Their aim was to examine the experiences they had of tinnitus, and of accessing healthcare support for the condition.
Participant experiences
The report found that while symptoms vary, tinnitus can impact severely on quality of life and mental health. Findings included:
- Over 1 in 5 of the people living with tinnitus surveyed had had thoughts of suicide or harming themselves in the last year.
- More than 8 out of 10 respondents experienced low mood or anxiety in the last year, with 7 out of 10 feeling hopeless or helpless.
- Sleep disturbances affect 85.7% of respondents.
- The emotional impact of tinnitus is significant, with 68.4% reporting low self-esteem and 54.9% struggling to think rationally.
- Tinnitus is linked to social isolation, impacting relationships and daily life.
The research identified tinnitus as a ‘highly isolating’ condition with 67.8% of participants reporting difficulties in home, work, or family life.
Access to support for tinnitus
The research revealed people’s experiences of accessing healthcare support for tinnitus. It also explored the availability of information about tinnitus from GPs.
Based on these findings, Tinnitus UK have also included in the report recommendations based on discussions with practicing health professionals from a range of disciplines.
The report
You can read the full report here.
Help and information from Hearing Link Services
For information on what tinnitus is, you can head to this page of our website.
For tips and tricks on how to manage tinnitus, you can go to this page.