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Today’s topic is one that is prevalent in EVERYONE’S life. Americans are getting less sleep than ever before and studies have shown that it is a key factor in mental illness. Sleep deprivation is defined as, “the situation or condition of suffering from a lack of sleep.” Some causes of sleep deprivation may include, but are not limited to, screen time late at night, pressure at work and school, and increased responsibility. Sleep deprivation is most observed in adolescents but affects all ages.
Increased pressure in our school systems has led to an increase in mental health issues in teens. The average public high school in The United States starts at 7:59 AM, too early for the average teenager. With the average teen staying up until 10 or 11 PM every night, teens are getting less sleep than is recommended for a still maturing mind and body. The National Sleep Foundation recommends between eight and ten hours of sleep each night for adolescents between the ages of 14-17, an almost unachievable goal. The movie Inside the Teenage Brain, discusses a sleep debt that teenagers pay due to early start times as well as extra-curricular activities, and healthy social lives. This sleep debt is an influential cause in mental health problems among teens.
Sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of mental health problems. Someone who is sleep deprived is at a high risk for mood disorders, sleep disorders, and problems with relationships. Camile Peri, a writer for WebMd.com, says that “. . . a lack of sleep can hinder you from thinking clearly and keeping your emotions at an even keel. Studies show that excessive sleepiness can hurt work performance, wreak havoc on relationships, and lead to mood problems like anger and depression.” Students are expected to do more than ever before on less sleep than ever before. It is no wonder that so many have problems with family relationships, mood disorders, anxiety, and various other mental health issues.
The lack of sleep is not the only reason why adolescents are developing more mental health issues than ever before; a heightened academic standard puts more stress on students, causing anxiety and issues with self-worth. Many students are set to an impossible standard of academic achievement. Personalized learning plans have been replaced by the common core system, a system that teaches the average student. The common core system fails to assist extremely gifted students, as well as those with learning disabilities, to achieve their academic potential. This depersonalization, as well as additional pressure put on all students, is wreaking havoc on our nation’s youth.
A journal article was published by The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health in 2007 regarding the impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. It showed that sleep deprivation induces adverse changes in cognitive performance. A person’s ability to cope with sleep deprivation depends on multiple factors including aging, and gender. Not everybody needs the same amount of sleep; the need for many hours of sleep decreases as one ages.
Harvard Health Publications published an article in July of 2009 entitled Sleep and Mental Health. This article explains the correlation between the lack of sleep and mental health. It says that, “Chronic sleep problems affect 50% to 80% of patient in a typical psychiatric practice, compared with 10% to 18% of adults in the general U.S. population. Sleep problems are particularly common in patients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (ADHD)” The article makes three main points about sleep disorders and mental illness.
- Sleep problems are more likely to affect patients with psychiatric disorders than people in the general population
- Sleep problems may increase risk for developing particular mental illness, as well as result from such disorders.
- Treating the sleep disorder may help alleviate symptoms of the mental health problem.
So why is this important? It is important to be educated about the importance of sleep because it is an essential part of being healthy. In order to perform at peak physical and mental condition it is important to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.
Thanks for Reading!
Sources:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/
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