Teens and sleep https://lnkd.in/gUQHcBMJ
In Singapore suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 10-29, and the number of suicides amongst teens has increased in recent years. How does this connect to sleep? The research says that adolescents are at greater risk of mental ill health or suicide if: They are not getting enough sleep Their sleep schedules vary greatly They have an early school start time They have a sleep disorder Unfortunately all of these things are common for Singaporean teens, with only around 15% getting enough sleep on school nights. Having worked with schools in Singapore I have seen first hand how school pressures and a 'achievement at all costs' culture negatively impact sleep. Students will frequently stay up late or set their alarms extra early in order to squeeze in extra study. Aside from the pressure to achieve, prioritising work over sleep leads to sleep deprivation and a lack of cognitive and emotional resources to handle these pressures. In fact a lack of sleep also makes students less efficient at learning. So sacrificing sleep for study makes no sense. But what can schools do about this? Delay start times so that students can sleep at times that match their biological clocks. Prioritise sleep and wellbeing e.g. by ensuring manageable workloads. Help students develop skills in time management so that they don't become overwhelmed. Recognise sleep disorders early and refer to specialists for support. If this is a topic that you'd like to know more about, look out for my upcoming article in The Psychologist magazine (by the Singapore Psychological Society), on youth mental health and sleep. Goh, W. S., Tan, J. H. N., Luo, Y., Ng, S. H., Sulaiman, M. S. B. M., Wong, J. C. M., & Loh, V. W. K. (2023). Risk and protective factors associated with adolescent depression in Singapore: a systematic review. Singapore medical journal. #youthmentalhealth #teensleep #teensleepandsuicide #mentalhealthandsleep