Poor sleep impacts health and happiness

27th January 2011 - We spend approximately a third of our lives asleep. It’s an essential and involuntary process which helps us  function better during our waking hours but a new report says more than 30% of the population currently suffers from insomnia or another sleep disorder. The Mental Health Foundation’s report, ‘Sleep Matters’ reveals the impact of poor sleep on the health, and happiness of the nation.

The charity describes poor sleep as “a seriously neglected public health concern” and is using publication of the report to launch a major new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of sleep for the mental and physical health of the nation.

Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said in a statement: “Whilst great emphasis is rightly placed on the importance of diet and exercise, sleep has for too long been neglected as a major influence on the physical and mental health of the nation. Up to a third of the population currently suffers from insomnia, and with stress and longer working hours on the rise in the current economic climate, it is crucial that we now treat the issue of sleep problems as the major public health concern it is.”

Sleep survey

The report includes new data from the Great British Sleep Survey, which reveal the extent to which sleep disorders affect our lives.

A total of 5,328 people (1,376 men and 3,952 women) took part in the survey into the nation’s sleep habits. 320 (6%) were over age 60, the rest were between 16 and 60.

The survey found that compared to people who sleep well, people with insomnia are:

• Four times as likely to have relationship problems
• Three times as likely to experience low mood and to lack concentration during the day
• Three times as likely to struggle to ‘get things done’ at work or elsewhere in their lives
• Over twice as likely to suffer from energy deficiency

Dr Dan Robotham, Senior Researcher at the Mental Health Foundation and lead author of Sleep Matters says in a statement: “Poor sleep can lead to mental health problems, and mental health problems can lead to poor sleep. As a result, those who start experiencing insomnia can soon find themselves in a downward spiral of sleeplessness and ill-health, from which some never fully recover. It is therefore crucial that people are aware of the effective ways of breaking that spiral by improving the quality of their sleep. Employers, schools and public health bodies also need to know how they can identify and support people suffering from sleep disorders”.

Report recommendations

In order to tackle the impact sleep problems are having on the health and wellbeing of the UK, the Mental Health Foundation recommends among other things:

• local and national public health campaigns should be organised for schools, workplaces and other public arenas, to highlight the importance of sleep and advise on good sleep practice and therapies
• GPs should be provided with up-to-date information and training about the importance of sleep and evidence-based sleep therapies
• NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) should develop guidance on the management of insomnia using evidence-based non-pharmaceutical therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which the charity believes is the best  proven therapy for persistent insomnia