Mental health problems can affect your sleep in different ways. Anxiety can cause your thoughts to race, which can make it hard to sleep Depression can lead to oversleeping: sleeping late or a lot during the day. It can also cause insomnia if you have troubling thoughts Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause nightmares or night terrors. These […]

Many different things that can affect our sleep. They include: stress or worry a change in the noise level or temperature of your bedroom a different routine, for example, because of jet lag too much caffeine or alcohol shift work physical or mental health problems side effects of medicines

A good diet and regular physical exercise can help us to relax and get better sleep. And the opposite is also true: an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise can stop us from sleeping well. Avoid eating large meals close to bedtime. Try to also ditch the bedtime caffeine (like coffee), alcohol or nicotine if […]

If you’re lying awake unable to sleep, do no not try to force it. If you’re tired and enjoying the feeling of resting, then sleep may naturally take over. But if you cannot sleep, get up and sit in a comfy place and do something relaxing, like reading a book or listening to quiet music. […]

It’s generally easier to drop off when it’s quiet, dark and cool – although the right sleep environment is personal, so try different things and see what works for you. Silence is golden when it comes to sleep for many of us, so wearing earplugs, putting your phone on silent (or out of the room […]

Anxiety, worry and stress can affect how well we sleep. Luckily, there are things you can do daily to help manage your worries, like talking to someone you trust or writing in a notebook about your concerns. If you often lie awake worrying, set aside time before bed to make a to-do list for the […]

Remember, your sleep routine starts before you get into bed, so build in time every evening to relax. Avoid electronic devices at least an hour before bed, as mobiles, tablets and computers all throw out blue light that stops sleep. Reading, listening to soft music or a podcast, or sleep meditation can all help if […]

Having a regular routine helps to improve sleep. It’s sometimes called sleep hygiene. A good sleep routine should include having a set time to start winding down – and a way to relax is important too. Going to bed and getting up at fixed times is another good sleep habit. Ideally, a sleep routine should […]

To get better sleep, you can try: Limiting or avoiding using device screens before sleep Relaxing before bed with a warm bath, reading a book or listening to the radio Exercising regularly but avoiding vigorous exercise too close to bedtime Cutting down on caffeine, especially in the evening Avoiding too much food or alcohol late […]

The following apps and websites also aim to help you improve sleep: Sleepio. This is a 6-week clinically proven programme used to treat insomnia.  It is available for free on the NHS. You can access it from the website. Sleepstation. This online course will guide you through a scientifically proven solution and give you the […]

The mental health benefits of good sleep include boosting our mood, reducing stress and helping with anxiety.

We all need to sleep well to help our bodies recover from the day and allow healing to occur.

But a lot of us struggle to get a good night’s sleep, and the consequences can be more serious than feeling grumpy or unfocused. Sleep and mental health are closely related: living with a mental health condition can affect your sleep, and poor sleep can affect your mental health.

Problems with sleep can affect how you feel physically and mentally, and how you feel can also affect how you sleep. Find out how a lack of sleep can affect your mental health, and what you can do to improve it.