The Benefits of Sleep in Teens’ Mental Health

Sleep is important for everyone's physical and mental, and teenagerss are not left out. But these young people are getting less sleep these days, even when you might think they have less to worry about that may keep them awake.

Why do teenagers sleep late?

Youths of today rationally believe that sleeping less amounts to greater productivity. If you ask millennials what it takes to be rich, a considerable percentage would tell you "working late into the night." Some think that the wealthiest people in the world do not sleep as much as regular ones, and that's why they accomplish much more because they utilize both night and day industriously. But nothing can be farther from the truth.

A lot of teenagers also sleep late because of heavy screen time. Most of them hang out on social media well into the night, even when they have to wake up early next day for school. The need for high academic performance may also cause sleep deprivation in students, leading to poor mental health outcomes.

Physical Benefits of Sleep

Getting sufficient sleep is important for good health and overall well-being. When you get the recommended amount of sleep, which is about 8 hours per night, you:

• Get sick less often
• Have a lower risk of suffering serious heart problems, such as diabetes and heart diseases
• Stay at a healthy weight
• Manage stress better and have improved mood
• Think more clearly during the day
• Become more productive at school and work since your mind is clear.

Wealthy men like Jeff Bezos understand this, and that's why they prioritize sufficient sleep in order to be highly productive, which is essential for outstanding business success.

Jeff Bezos once said, "Well, I sleep 8 hours a day. It helps me to think better. I have more energy and my mood is better."

If you're a youth who gets less sleep in order to get more done, below is a reminder that that's not the ideal way to go.

Notable Personalities and How Much Sleep They Get

• Jeff Bezos - 8 hours
• Bill Gates - 7 hours
• Elon Musk - 6 hours
• Neil Patel - 8 hours
• Jack Ma - 7 hours
• Joe Rogan - 8 hours
• LeBron James - 8 hours
• Albert Einstein - 10 hours

The most shocking is Albert Einstein, who is regarded as the greatest thinker that ever lived. If someone that gets that much sleep could be that productive, then being great isn't about sleeping less than your mates.

Sufficient Sleep Promotes Good Mental Health in Teens

Children between 6-12 years should get about 9-12 hours of sleep, while 8-10 hours are recommended for teens. These figures help create a society of healthy (physically and mentally) and productive individuals.

The benefits of sufficient sleep go beyond the physical: sleep promotes better mental health in teens.

A new study by Dr. Alex Agostini and Dr. Stephanie Centofanti confirms that sleep is intrinsically linked to mental health, especially during teenage, something that has been overlooked for so long.

Sleep is especially critical for teens because they're in a stage where they go through several physical, psychological, and developmental changes. How well this development occurs depends on how much sleep the individual gets. It's like how babies require extremely long hours of sleep to develop.

How much sleep do teens need?

Teens need about 8-10 hours of sleep daily. Without the recommended 8 hours minimum of sleep, teens are "less able to deal with stressors, such as bullying and social pressures, and run the risk of developing behavioral problems, as well as anxiety and depression," says Dr. Agostini.

This is all backed by research. The study by Dr. Agostini also shows that teens are more likely to indulge in marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco use, among other harmful activities if they get less than 6 hours of sleep daily. In short, insufficient sleep contributes greatly to poor mental health in teens.

Unfortunately, technology, which we can no longer do without, is one thing that majorly keeps teens up late at night. However, some high school and college students also study late into the night to get better grades.

Bottom Line

As irrational as it may sound, getting 8 hours of sleep a night can help you better than depriving yourself of it with the intention of accomplishing more.

But it's not all about the young ones. To combat this issue, parents, medical practitioners, as well as teens must understand how sleep affects their mental health and take action.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.