Monmouth hearing clinic had an opening evening on May 14 to highlight the link between hearing and mental health.

The company have been in Monmouth for 20 years, but due to it being mental health awareness week they wanted to highlight the importance of the link between hearing and mental health.

Helen Hollywell, owner of Monmouthshire hearing centre and registered hearing aid audiologist said:

“People suffer with tinnitus which is buzzing and ringing in their ears. They can't switch it off and for some people and that can be quite debilitating and can get people very down.”

“If you've got hearing loss, then you might be suffering a little bit with sort of feeling isolated because you can't join into conversations.”

“We're offering free wax checks, just to obviously make sure everyone’s ears are nice and clear.”

“But we want to raise awareness of hearing health and that having a hearing test is just like having an eye test.”

“A lot of people look at it as a clinical thing and we want to allow people to hopefully come out in in a far more relaxed environment.”

“We like to get to know our customers, so whilst ultimately, we're wanting to help them with their hearing, we want them to feel very much that they are coming into a very relaxed environment.”

Steph Thomas, Wellbeing lead for Mind Monmouthshire, was there and said there is a stereotype around mental health.

“We still know there is a lot of stigmas around mental health and to some degree there will be a stigma around hearing loss,” she said.

“The more we do to promote services that are available and hearing in Monmouth and Monmouthshire then the more people who will know about it and can access the service and hopefully reduce the stigma.”