Unlocking Wellness: Sleep, Health Trends, and the 988 Lifeline

In an era marked by unprecedented challenges to wellness, the intersection of physical well-being and mental & behavioral health has emerged as a focal point for societal dialogue. The United States is currently facing a growing mental health crisis, which is further aggravated by global health disparities. It has become increasingly urgent to address these interrelated issues.

Join us as we delve into the multifaceted landscape of wellness, exploring the latest data on sleep health, pivotal role of 988 in supporting mental health empowerment, and the stark realities of America's mental health crisis and global women's health trends. Unlocking wellness begins with understanding the intricate dynamics at play and harnessing the resources available to pave a path towards holistic well-being for all.

Advancing Sleep and Mental Health: Insights from NSF's Congressional Briefing

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recently organized the first-ever Congressional Briefing to discuss the crucial link between sleep health and mental health, as part of their ongoing Sleep Awareness Week? campaign. The aim of this briefing was to help policymakers understand the significant impact of sleep on mental well-being and identify actionable solutions. Along with the briefing, NSF also released findings from their latest Sleep in America? Poll. The poll showed that there is a correlation between teenagers' sleep habits and depressive symptoms.

A few findings from this year's research:

• 8 out of every 10 teens don’t get enough sleep.
• 50% of teens feel lonely or isolated at least once or twice a week. 37% of 13- to 17-year-olds in the 2024 SIA Poll reported symptoms consistent with at least mild levels of depression
• 7 out of every 10 teens have to be present for the start of school activities before NSF recommended 8:30am.
• Teenagers who start school before 8:30am have higher levels of depressive symptoms than those who start school later. Most teens say school or work schedules and demands are the main factors that keep them from getting the sleep they need to drive alert.
• The NSF recommends 8-10 hours of sleep for teens age 14 to 17 and 9-11 hours for teens age 13. Less than 2 out of 10 teens reported achieving these recommended sleep durations on both school nights and weekends.

NSF CEO John Lopos emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing the connection between sleep and mental health. The briefing featured insights from members of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, experts in the field, and key stakeholders. Additionally, Congressman Jamie Raskin submitted remarks to the Congressional Record in support of Sleep Awareness Week. He stressed the need to tackle sleep disparities linked to socioeconomic and racial inequalities.

Do you know what 988 is + how it can help?

A staggering 82% of Americans remain unfamiliar with the 988 service, indicating a significant gap in awareness.

988 is a three-digit phone number designated as the 24/7 national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States. It's akin to 911 for mental health emergencies. By dialing 988, individuals experiencing mental health crises, suicidal thoughts, or emotional distress can connect with trained counselors who provide immediate support, resources, and guidance.

This lifeline isn't solely for those in immediate crisis; it's also a vital resource for anyone seeking emotional support or information about mental health services. Trained professionals at 988 call centers offer compassionate listening, crisis intervention, and referrals to local mental health services, ensuring individuals receive the help they need promptly.

The establishment of 988 aims to streamline access to mental health support, making it easier for individuals to seek help during moments of vulnerability. Its existence is vital in saving lives, de-escalating crises, and promoting mental well-being across diverse communities.

This resource provides access to English and Spanish-speaking counselors. For people who speak other languages, call 988 and you will be provided translation in more than 240 additional languages through Language Line Solutions. 988 is also accessible for TTY users. TTY users simply use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. The hotline also offers 988 ASL Videophone for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Most Americans were unaware that it takes teens an average of 8 to 10 years to receive mental health treatment.

Exploring Insights from the NAMI-Ipsos Poll: Understanding America's Perception of Mental Health Crisis Response

In the summer of 2023, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) collaborated with Ipsos to conduct a revealing poll on Americans' familiarity and perceptions regarding the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The findings unearthed crucial insights, shedding light on the nation's stance on mental health crisis response and related funding.

Key Insights on 988 Awareness:

• A staggering 82% of Americans remain unfamiliar with the 988 service, indicating a significant gap in awareness.
• Most Americans were unaware that it takes teens an average of 8 to 10 years to receive mental health treatment.
• About 3 in 5 Americans are wrong about or do not know that contacting 988 connects a person experiencing a mental health crisis to needed services and support and that it can de-escalate a situation where a person is suicidal.
• 85% of people say they want a mental health response to someone experiencing a mental health, drug or suicide crisis, not a police response.
• 3 in 5 Americans saying they would be afraid the police may hurt them or their loved one while responding to a mental health crisis. This is higher for Black (77%), Hispanic (75%) and LGBTQ+(78%) than for White (53%) and non-LGBTQ+ (58%) Americans.

• More than 2 in 5 individuals still say they don’t know what to do if someone they love is experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide – the exact situations that 988 is intended to address.
• Americans 49 and under are more likely than older Americans to have heard of 988, with 18–29-year-olds more likely to report being familiar than other age groups (27% vs. 18% for 30-49, 11% for 50-64 and 13% for 65+ adults). LGBTQ+ Americans are twice as likely to say they are familiar with 988 than non- LGBTQ+ Americans.
• 90% support creating 24/7 mental health, alcohol/drug, and suicide crisis call centers that can respond effectively to callers and follow-up later.
• Only 3% of Americans polled had called 988 for themselves, and 3% had called for a loved one

Global Study Issues Wake-Up Call for Women's Health

The third year findings of a global women's health study , which covered 143 countries and territories in 2022, have highlighted significant gaps in healthcare access and affordability for women worldwide. The data indicates that billions of women are not getting crucial screenings for life-threatening diseases, facing ongoing physical or emotional health challenges, and struggling to afford basic necessities like food. These revelations emphasize the pressing need for improved healthcare infrastructure, increased access to essential screenings and treatments, and enhanced support systems to address the multifaceted health needs of women across diverse regions. Gallup provided some helpful insights from the report.

"Nearly a billion women -- one in every three surveyed in 2022 -- say they spent a lot of the previous day in physical pain. And one in four women -- which translates into nearly 700 million -- have health problems that keep them from doing normal activities" (Gallup).

Additionally, approximately 700 million individuals, or one in four women, disclosed having health conditions that prevented them from participating in regular activities.

While the percentage of women experiencing physical pain has remained consistent with previous years, there has been an observable increase from 30% in the first year of the survey. Across all three years, a larger proportion of women reported enduring physical pain compared to men.

In addition, 24% of women reported that health problems prevented them from taking part in activities that are usually associated with their age group. Although this percentage is similar to the previous year's statistics, there has been a noticeable increase from 20% in the first year of the survey.

These findings emphasize the widespread prevalence of physical discomfort and health challenges faced by women globally. These issues underscore the need for increased healthcare resources and support tailored to address them.

The majority of women surveyed revealed that they had not undergone screenings for cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or sexually transmitted diseases or infections within the past year. This indicates that billions of women, including those in age brackets most vulnerable to these conditions, remained untested for potentially life-threatening illnesses for the third consecutive year.

Women around the world also tend to experience negative emotions more frequently than men. For instance, women are 20% more likely than men to report feeling sad on a daily basis. Additionally, nearly 1 billion women, including over 40% of young women aged 15 to 24, do not feel safe walking alone at night in their respective communities. Although there's been a slight decrease in the proportion of women who feel unsafe compared to the previous year, the figures are still consistent with those from the initial year of assessment.

On a positive note, nearly seven in ten women are satisfied with the quality of healthcare available in their communities, and they believe that most pregnant women receive adequate prenatal care. While attitudes toward healthcare quality have seen a slight improvement compared to the previous year, sentiments largely echo those from the initial assessment.

Access to basic needs has a significant impact on the well-being of women. It has been observed that having access to essentials such as food and shelter is linked with increased life expectancies and reduced mortality rates among mothers, infants, and children. However, almost 1 billion women globally unfortunately face financial barriers in accessing these necessities. Shockingly, three out of ten women report being unable to afford adequate food or shelter for themselves or their families.

Despite the stability in the number of women facing housing affordability challenges over the past three years, historical trends from Gallup indicate a concerning increase in the percentage of women struggling to afford shelter over the past decade.