The link between teenage sleep and mental health

The link between teenage sleep and mental health
For many parents of teenagers, the amount that their kids sleep is a cause for irritation or at the very least concern. It can be tempting to drag sleepy teens from their beds and push them to do something with their day. However, evidence suggests that this may not be the best tactic, since it is likely that getting enough sleep is important when it comes to maintaining good mental health.

The link between sleep and mental health is, of course, already established, and having trouble sleeping is widely recognized as a symptom of mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety. But now mounting evidence suggests that disrupted sleep may not be merely a symptom of a more serious mental health disorder; it may in fact be a cause. If that’s truly the case, then teenage sleep is more important than we once thought.