CHARLOTTE — It’s not surprising that there’s a connection between sleep and mental health, but new research specifically focused on health care workers underscores that link.
Researchers at Columbia University studied health care workers and found that those with poor sleep were twice as likely to report symptoms of depression, and 70% more likely to report anxiety.
[ Here to help: Mental health resources in the Charlotte area ]
The pandemic has made the problem worse, leading nearly three-quarters of the health care workers in the study to report at least moderate insomnia symptoms.
Researchers can’t say whether it’s poor sleep causing mental health issues, or vice versa, but they said there’s a direct correlation -- and improving one definitely helps the other.
[ ALSO READ: Teen brains’ social media addiction comparable to drug addiction, researchers say ]
Sleep experts recommend cutting screen use before bedtime, especially in children. They said using electronic devices can delay the process of falling asleep and lower the quality of the sleep you do get.
They also recommend eliminating distractions and lowering the temperature a few degrees.
(WATCH BELOW: Nonprofit raising money to give counseling, mental health resources to first responders)
This browser does not support the video element.