Charity calling for more support for people with tinnitus
A new report's found a 5th of people with the condition suffer with their mental health.
A national charity is calling on more to be done to help support the 7.6 million people in the UK living with tinnitus, with shocking new research showing a fifth of those living with the condition have experienced thoughts of self-harm and even suicide.
Tinnitus, is a condition where people hear sounds such as a ringing or buzzing without an external source – it affects one in seven adults in the UK.
Sarah from Nuneaton in the West Midlands was diagnosed with the condition as a teenager and has struggled with her mental health ever since.
She's told us, "Given my experience with it, it's incessant. At least my tinnitus doesn't go away, I know for some people it can come and go.
"I'm not surprised that people get overwhelmed very easily. I know I did.
"To bottle it up is not the solution, don't be afraid to share it."
She continued, "My instinct initially was to keep it quiet, not tell anyone. I didn't think anyone would understand.
"My advise is - don't do that, reach out."
While it can be a temporary annoyance for some, for others, it becomes a persistent and distressing companion and can have massive implications on mental health.
As part of Tinnitus Week, Tinnitus UK has released new research highlighting the impact the condition has on the lives of people living with tinnitus.
1 in 5 people living with tinnitus have experienced thoughts of self-harm or suicide in the last year alone, while 80% agreed it had led to them experiencing low mood or anxiety.
Sleep deprivation is a common side-effect of tinnitus, impacting over 85% of people, with the emotional impact of tinnitus also significant, with over two-third (68%) reporting low self-esteem and over half (55%) signaling that is impacts their ability to think rationally.
It’s estimated that there’s over 1-millon tinnitus related GP appointments every year on the NHS – with the condition costing the NHS £750 million to treat.
Concerningly, the research highlighted how people living with tinnitus often struggle to get the support they need.
1 in 10 people experiencing tinnitus had to wait over a month for an appointment with their GP to discuss the condition, while the rate of referrals for expert, secondary care dipped to just over half (57%).
In fact, 1 in 6 people living with tinnitus faced a wait of over a year for secondary care. Meanwhile, only 5% were offered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) by their GP.