It's Tinnitus Week and on behalf of everyone who has tinnitus, we NEED your help. We've launched a petition pushing for the government to commit more funding to tinnitus research.
●New research by the BTA shows the massive mental health impact of tinnitus
○1 in 5 think about it every few minutes
○Affects social lives, hobbies, relationships, careers
○1 in 7 have had suicidal thoughts
●This research - and the huge impact it is having - highlights the need for more funding to find cures:
○8 in 10 patients unhappy with treatment options
○Yet it receives 40 times less funding than similar conditions like hearing loss, depression and anxiety
○We need more funding from the Government for research into tinnitus as it has been forgotten for too long
Let's hope Tinnitus Awareness Week does what it says on the packet. Last year I saw nothing and heard nothing. I know the BTA do their best, but it's like a drop in the ocean.
I've posted on FB as have some of my t friends, but to be honest no one really cares unless they've got it or know someone who has. Fund raising for illness tends to centre round the obvious, cancer for example. Obviously I'm happy about that as I'm still having treatment for breast cancer. I would love to see posters everywhere highlighting the effects of t and what it can do to people. We need more high profile sufferers to get on board as well.
Sorry for the rant on a Monday morning, but I'm sick of this after 38 years.
We're hoping for loads of coverage too - and it won't be for lack of trying!
Already this week, The Times, the Daily Mail and the Independent are running with the story, so the biggest broadsheet and tabloid should reach several million people - and the Daily Mail website is the biggest news website in the world
I'm booked for a number of local BBC radio interviews (typing this in the gaps!) and my colleague Kerry is about to have interviews with seven of the ITV regional news programmes, so hopefully wherever you are in the country, you'll see or hear something.
No, you didn't imagine it - there's details at tinnitus.org.uk/write-to-yo... but we'll be focussing on that another day this week - but if you want to get a headstart and write your letter now, that would be great!
Thanks to everyone who has signed - we have over 7500 signatures now. With over 4300 people registered to this forum, we think we could easily break 10000 if everyone signed it! (You don't have to be in the UK)
Given that this petition has over 100,000 signatures now, where does it go from here? Would it be considered for debate in the Commons or does that just apply to petitions via the parliamentary website?
We've already been mentioned in a House of Lords debate, which is a good sign, and work is happening behind the scenes for further discussions with those that hold the purse strings. Although currently the Health Minister has a wee bit of an urgent issue on his mind!
Sadly, the chances of debate in the House of Commons via the petition route are slim. Unfortunately the Parliamentary site didn't reopen in time after the general election. However, we do have a number of MPs on board, so all is not lost and you can be sure we'll be doing all we can to get the issue of tinnitus funding raised wherever and whenever we can!
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