Uniting Senses and Experiences Network (USEN)
The USEN research network supports young people and their families who experience voice hearing and other sensory experiences.
CHUSE Network
Unusual sensory experiences
Voice hearing is a fairly normal part of growing up.
Some young people hear single words occasionally, while others hear multiple voices that interrupt, tell jokes or argue with them. Some hear sounds that others can’t, see things others can’t, or have other sensory experiences unique to them without external stimuli, such as smells.
Unusual sensory experiences (USEs) include voice hearing and seeing visions as well as other lesser-known sensory experiences. These include sensing the presence of another, smells that others can’t smell, emerging multiplicity (the feeling of more than one self in the body), and many more.
They can be distressing, comforting and/or useful – everyone’s experience is unique to them. Children and young people describe these experiences as protective, helpful and comforting - or frightening and scary.
For some people, these experiences happen many times during their lives, while others only have them briefly in childhood. Most young people stop hearing voices by the time they reach adulthood.
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About the USEN network
About USEN
Since 2017, our team has been exploring experiences of voice hearing for young people, as well as factors that influence voice-related distress within families.
From our data, we have developed a series of public information initiatives including:
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psychoeducation animations
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self-help guides
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guidance around how to support young people worried about USEs
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peer-reviewed research
The USEN network has developed from our research and is a collaborative venture between young people, practitioners and their families.
Together we aim to develop a better understanding of USEs through co-production and interdisciplinary working. We hope to explore choices for support for young people and families through direct involvement in the development and decision processes. And we want the USEN network to have young people and their allies at the centre of every stage of our research.
Research team
- Principal investigator: Dr Sarah Parry, Clinical Psychologist, Manchester Met
- Professor Paul French, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester Met
- Fiona Malpass, Voice Collective
- Sarah Morgan, Voice Collective
- Rebecca Burns, Researcher and expert-by-experience
- Zarah Eve, PhD researcher, Manchester Met
- Abby Connelly, PhD researcher, Manchester Met
- James McDonald, PhD researcher, Manchester Met
- Lauren Kinch, PhD researcher, Manchester Met
Research outputs
Academic papers
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Parry, S and Varese, F (2021) “Listen to the parents… really listen to the child!” Family narratives of supporting children hearing voices. Psychosis. pp.1-11.
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Parry, S, Loren, E and Varese, F (2020) Young people’s narratives of hearing voices: Systemic influences and conceptual challenges. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
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Parry, S and Varese, F (2020) Whispers, echoes, friends and fears: forms and functions of voice-hearing in adolescence Child and Adolescent Mental Health
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Parry, S, Djabaeva, R and Varese, F (2018) Engaging Young People Who Hear Voices in Online Mixed-Methods Research. SAGE Research Methods Cases.
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Our partners
Our partners
Since 2017, we have partnered with Voice Collective, a UK-wide, London-based project that supports children and young people who hear voices, see visions, and have other USEs or beliefs.
We have developed two PhD projects funded through the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership with Pennine Care's Young People's Mental Health Research Unit. The unit aims to become an international pioneer of research to support the delivery of world-class and sustainable mental health services for young people.
Special interest research group
Our group will focus on improved access to treatment choices for children and young people with multisensory hallucinations.
We will integrate learning from young people, carers, practitioners and researchers to collaboratively identify research priorities for improved understanding, support and care.
Special interest research group
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Download our resources
PhD projects at Manchester Met
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Emerging multiplicity and psychosocial functioning
Exploring the phenomenon of emerging multiplicity and psychosocial functioning within young people
This project aims to develop a novel understanding of multiplicity and how the experience can impact psychosocial functioning for adolescents and young people aged 14-30.
Young people and their allies will act as guides throughout the project to ensure the project identifies the true nature of the experiences. The project aims to create training and guidance materials to ensure professionals and young people alike understand the experience and how best to support those experiencing multiplicity.
Research lead: Zarah Eve
Email chuse@mmu.ac.uk for more information
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Developing an assessment and communication tool for USEs
Developing a novel assessment and communication tool for childhood auditory, visual and sensory hallucinations
This project aims to create a new communication and assessment tool that can be used when supporting children and young people with USEs.
A range of methods will be used to properly explore the lived experiences of those with USEs and those who provide support, making sure our new tool accommodates the diversity of these experiences.
Young people and those who provide support will also act as advisers throughout to make sure the project remains valid and centred on participant’s personal meanings.
Research lead: Dr Sarah Parry
Email usen@mmu.ac.uk for more information
To take part in the survey visit this page
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Commonalities and differences of sensory hallucinations and imaginary companions
My Friends, My Voices and Me: A Mixed-Methods Investigation Exploring Commonalities and Differences of Sensory Hallucinations and Imaginary Companions with Children and Young People
This project aims to examine similarities and differences of young people’s experiences with sensory hallucinations and imaginary companions, and the factors influencing those experiences.
Due to the limited knowledge around this subject, the research will also analyse the perspectives of parents and carers in relation to their appraisal of their children’s experiences. Together, the research aims to contribute to understanding the interplay between these related experiences.
Research lead: Abby Frances Connelly
Email youngvoicesstudy@mmu.ac.uk for more information
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Exploring the therapeutic utility of imaginary companions
It is commonly known that imaginary companions can be a typical part of childhood and development. Engaging with imaginary companions can enhance developmental skills including cognition, creativity, sociability and the ability to construct more complex narratives.
This study will explore the therapeutic utility of imaginary companions for children aged 3-12 years old. Qualitative and observational data will develop a novel understanding of therapeutically beneficial interactional and socio-emotional features of imaginary companions for young children.
Research lead: Lauren Kinch
Email lauren.kinch@stu.mmu.ac.uk for more information
Help and support
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The Voice Collective
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Intervoice
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Hearing Voices Network
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The Young Voices Study
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Hearing the Voice
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Mind
The Voice Collective
The Voice Collective is a project that supports children and young people who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual sensory experiences.
They have a forum for young people up to 25 who hear voices, see visions and have other unusual sensory experiences, and their supporters.
Intervoice
Intervoice is a charity that supports people who hear voices, see visions or experience other related phenomena. They have resources for children and young people that hear voices, and their support networks.
Hearing Voices Network
The Hearing Voices Network (HVN) is a national network of people who hear voices and see visions. They recognise there are various reasons for the experiences and that everyone experiences them in an individual way.
HVN resources:
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talk to other people who have similar experiences in one of the 180 groups around England, Wales and Scotland
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watch an animated video that challenges the stigma of young people hearing voices
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visit the forum for people who hear voices, see visions, or have other ‘unusual sensory experiences or beliefs’ and their support networks
The Young Voices Study
The Young Voices Study is based at Manchester Met. We explore the experiences of voice hearing for young people through listening to first-person accounts for young people who hear voices and their parents/carers.
In collaboration with Voice Collective, we developed a series of animations based on our participants’ narratives to support important adults in their lives talk with them in a helpful way about hearing voices.
Hearing the Voice
Hearing the Voice is a large-scale interdisciplinary research programme of voice hearing based at Durham University.
Visit the projects website Understanding Voices to:
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hear personal reflections from people who hear voices in the workplace
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hear from people who have used creativity and creative methods to help them through potentially difficult times in their lives
Mind
Mind is a national charity that offers information and advice to people with a variety of mental health difficulties. They offer lots of support for children and young people, including for people who have ‘unusual’ sensory experiences and would like support.
Mental health stories:
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Listen to James discusses his experiences of hearing voices and how his hobbies have helped him manage his mental health
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Listen to Juno discuss his experience of having hallucinations while he was at school, and how he copes with the experiences
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Watch Eleanor Longden’s TED talk on her experiences of starting to hear voices as a student, and her mental health journey of realising that the voices helped her to survive