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Organization: NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria and the Sustainability & Resilience Institute
Title: Listen Up! Rethinking Mental Health & Hearing
Alternate tite:
Listen up! Rethinking mental health & hearing
Description:
A recent hybrid event brought together researchers, health professionals, community representatives, and international experts to explore the crucial and often under-recognised connection between mental health and hearing. Hosted both in person and online, the event provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on current evidence, share experiences, and consider practical steps to address these intertwined public health challenges.
Understanding the Scale of the Issue
Hearing loss and mental health issues, particularly depression, affect millions of people in England and across the world. The event highlighted evidence showing that individuals with hearing loss are twice as likely to experience depression and other mental health difficulties. This strong correlation served as a starting point for in-depth discussions about the causes, consequences, and potential interventions that can address these co-occurring health concerns.
A Regional Focus on Health Inequalities
Particular attention was given to the North of England, where industrial legacies have contributed to higher rates of hearing loss. This regional lens helped to emphasise how environmental and socioeconomic factors intersect to deepen health inequalities. Participants explored how these issues are not only medical in nature but also closely tied to place, economic opportunity, and access to care. Understanding the broader social determinants of health was central to the day’s conversations.
Insights from Research and Practice
Throughout the event, attendees heard from a wide range of speakers, including leading researchers and representatives from the World Health Organization’s Make Listening Safe Initiative. Presentations covered the latest research on hearing loss and mental health, the impact on ageing and wellbeing, and the role of prevention and early intervention. The evidence presented underscored the importance of integrated approaches that consider both auditory and mental health needs, especially in underserved communities.
Interactive Engagement and Community Perspectives
One of the event’s most valuable aspects was its interactive format, which allowed attendees to contribute their own perspectives and insights. Participants engaged in a lively session discussing maps highlighting areas with high rates of depression, helping to contextualise how hearing loss may be contributing to mental health burdens in specific communities.
This participatory approach encouraged cross-sector dialogue and helped surface local knowledge that may not always be captured in formal research. It also reinforced the need to ensure that lived experience is central to the development of future strategies and services.
Key Themes and Takeaways
Several important themes emerged from the event:
Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for addressing complex health issues that cut across physical and mental health domains.
Place matters – solutions must be tailored to the specific contexts and communities most affected by hearing loss and depression.
Public involvement is critical to ensure that policy and service design reflect the real needs and experiences of those impacted.
Prevention and early intervention should be prioritised to reduce long-term health and economic burdens.
Global perspectives can inform local action – international initiatives like WHO’s Make Listening Safe provide valuable models and momentum for change.
Looking Ahead
The event successfully fostered a sense of shared purpose and laid the groundwork for potential future collaborations. By bringing together diverse voices, it highlighted the need for a more integrated approach to mental health and hearing and helped identify opportunities to shape evidence-based policies that promote equity and wellbeing.
For all who participated, the event served as a reminder that addressing these challenges is not only a health priority but a social one – and that meaningful progress requires working together across disciplines, sectors, and communities.
Primary site: EUR – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
General Photos
Researching hearing loss and depression
Dr Dalia Tsimpida
Professor Emily Oliver
Dr Jack Birch
Types of Engagement:
Screening: No
Traditional media: No
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations:
Participation of policy makers: No
Participation of influencers: No