Sleep Health Resources
A report by the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that "lack of sleep not only undermines our teenagers’ safety and their academic performance, but puts them at higher risk for depression and obesity."
Effects of Teenage Sleep Deprivation
The developing brain of a teenager needs between eight and 10 hours of sleep every night. The effects of chronic (ongoing) sleep deprivation may include:
- concentration difficulties
- mentally ‘drifting off’ in class
- shortened attention span
- impairments in executive function (working memory, organization, time management, sustained effort)
- increased vulnerability to stress
- poor decision making
- lack of enthusiasm
- moodiness and aggression
- increased risk for anxiety and depression
- risk-taking behavior
- increased obesity risk
- increase rates of motor vehicle crashes
- higher rates of caffeine consumption or nonmedical use of stimulant
- slower physical reflexes and clumsiness, which may result in physical injuries
- reduced sporting performance
- reduced academic performance
- increased number of ‘sick days’ from school because of tiredness
- truancy
SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics
Tips to Sleep & Live Better
Check out these Sleep Health Articles and Videos
The Global Problem of Insufficient Sleep and Its Serious Public Health Implications - PMC (nih.gov)
Sleep in Middle and High School Students | Healthy Schools | CDC
Teenagers and Sleep: How Much Sleep Is Enough? | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Sleep in Middle and High School Students | Healthy Schools | CDC
Teen Sleep: Why It Matters and How We Can Help | Psychology Today
Why teenage sleep is so important for mental health (bbc.com)
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Teens and healthy sleep habits - Mayo Clinic News Network
Teenagers and Sleep: How Much Sleep Is Enough? | Johns Hopkins Medicine
5 Ideas for Better Sleep (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth
Sleep for Teenagers | Sleep Foundation (You can listen to this article by pressing play once you click the link and click play)
PBS News Hour Video: How teenagers' lack of sleep is taking a toll on their mental health
WSD and Wake Up and Learn Partnership
In October 2023, WSD started a multi-year partnership with Geisinger's Wake Up and Learn - a school-based sleep education and assessment program that helps empower students, parents, and educators to adopt healthy sleep patterns and improve their overall mental, physical, and emotional health.