Episode 5 – Sleep, insomnia and mental health

Getting enough sleep is important for your health and happiness. Generally, if you sleep better you feel better. On the other hand, poor sleep can make you feel low and have a negative impact on your mood. But does poor sleep increase your chances of experiencing a mental health problem or is it a symptom?

In this episode we’re joined by Dr Ajay Thapar, a GP who recently travelled to the USA on a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship to learn more about insomnia and different treatments, and Dr Katie Lewis, whose work investigates the relationship between sleep disruption and mood disorders like bipolar and depression.

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Research papers mentioned during this episode

• Improving management of sleep problems, Dr Ajay Thapar

Links and resources

• Sleep Council
• Sleepio
• National Sleep Foundation (USA)
• An Introduction to Coping with Insomnia and Sleep Problems 

Sleep Diary

Monitor your own sleep pattern with our Sleep Diary.

Morning type/evening type quiz

We hope you enjoy, and if you have any feedback please get in touch at info@ncmh.info