Fun fact, did you know that mental health and sleep are strongly related? Ever heard the nursery rhyme “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man strong, healthy and wise”? You never did think about it right?
You are strong and healthy if you sleep well. Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up.
Poor sleep can increase the risk of having poor mental health and poor mental health can, in turn, make it harder to sleep. Mental health issues, such as depression, are strongly linked to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders. It’s been estimated that 90% of people with depression complain about sleep.
Poor sleep is even associated with an increased risk of death by suicide. In the same guise, people with sleeping disorders like insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea also report significantly, higher rates of depression than those without.
So, why is good quality sleep important for positive mental health?
Sleep is important for various aspects of brain function. This includes cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance.
Studies have shown sleep deprivation leaves people vulnerable to attention lapses, reduced cognition, delayed reactions, and mood shifts. These are all indications of poor mental health.
Sleeping helps us to recover from mental, as well as physical exertion or exhaustion. Sleeping helps us feel more alert, more energetic, happier, and able to function better. Good sleep also enhances your ability to recognize important social cues and process emotional information which is an indication of strong mental health.
It is imperative as humans to have the right amount of good quality sleep. Doctors recommend 7-8 hours of sleep daily for adults. So, sleep longer, don’t give up on your dreams so soon.