"Up to a million people in the UK have been driven to suicidal thoughts by tinnitus, when people hear a noise that has no external cause," says a new study. A study published today by the British Tinnitus Association says that about 7 million British adults are affected by the condition and the volume of sounds people hear can be comparable to a jet engine or a whistling kettle, "The Times reported.
'The association is calling for increased spending on tinnitus research. This area, according to the association, receives less than 3% of funds allocated for conditions such as depression and hearing loss, despite their comparable impact, the article says. - A survey of 1,620 people with tinnitus found that nearly six in ten experienced low mood and depression. More than four in ten said the condition made them avoid contact with friends and are less socially active. One in seven - which is potentially the equivalent of roughly 1 million adults nationwide - reported the condition caused suicidal ideation."
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Claire Evely, 34, a mother of two from New Milton, Hampshire, said she was diagnosed last July. “It all started suddenly after a rare evening when I was in the city listening to loud music. It was a low humming sound that I could also feel,”she says. - I started having suicidal thoughts. I was very scared and thought that my two young children would be better off without me. I couldn't concentrate on them; I was too absorbed in these terrible sounds. I was prescribed antidepressants. She is now part of a support group and has found that yoga and meditation can help overcome anxiety.
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"David Stockdale, executive director of the British Tinnitus Association, notes:" It is a mockery that tinnitus, given its enormous mental health effects, receives 40 times less funding than comparable conditions. It's time for the government to listen and invest in tinninus to help improve the mental health and quality of life for millions of people.”
“(…) Tinnitus is sometimes associated with other conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis. It can also be a side effect of certain medications or exposure to loud noises. However, in many cases it is not known what triggers it - the newspaper explains. "The UK's National Health Service offers a variety of treatments, including specialist advice and cognitive behavioral therapy, to help people cope with the condition."
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