Scotland’s young people are facing a sleep crisis partly caused by overuse of social media, a leading charity has warned.
More and more teenagers are struggling to get proper rest because their addiction to tech has triggered anxiety and depression.
The charity Sleep Scotland, which helps young people, has seen its case load grow from dozens to 1000 per year.
Chief executive Karen Jenkinson said there was a strong link between bad sleep and poor mental health.
She added: “Over the years I’ve seen the support needed for families grow and grow. Now we have a massive problem in society.
“We work in a 24/7 society where people don’t know how to rest.
“It almost seems like a weakness to want a good night’s sleep, when that is what human beings are built to need.
“Stress and anxiety is a huge problem for young people today.
“Overuse of social media can affect sleep. Teenagers in particular are on their phones until they go to bed, and a lot of them keep their phones under the pillow so there will be texts throughout the night.”
Studies have suggested that 16 to 19-year-olds with insomnia are four times more likely to self-harm, and that youngsters who sleep for less than eight hours a night are three times more likely to attempt suicide.
Karen said: “I’m not saying that if you sleep well you will never get anxiety, depression or any sort of mental health issue. But sleeping well can most certainly support mental health in some cases.”
Rest is essential for the body to renew itself, and a good night’s sleep improves mental health, memory and your resistance to disease.
Karen said: “Without sleeping well, your body isn’t repairing itself. You won’t be as healthy and you will have a weaker immune system.”
