Sleep Health Journal Article Highlights Association Between Sleep Disorders and Relative Risk of Suicidal Ideation in Youth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephanie Kohn
540-850-7827
skohn@thensf.org
Sleep Health Journal Article Highlights Association Between Sleep Disorders and Relative Risk of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in Youth
Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2023): New research published in the National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) Sleep Health journal show sleep disorders are associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in youth presenting to emergency departments.
Sleep Disorders and Relative Risk of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in Youth Presenting to Emergency Departments (Carbone, Casement) analyzed data from more than 65 million youth aged 6-24 years who visited an emergency department between 2015 and 2017.
Findings showed that youth presenting to emergency departments with a diagnosed sleep disorder are at increased risk for having thoughts of suicide, or “suicidal ideation.” In fact, youth with at least one sleep disorder diagnosis had three times greater odds of an emergency department encounter involving suicidal ideation than those without a sleep disorder diagnosis. Results also showed that sleep disorders are underdiagnosed in youth presenting to emergency departments, relative to their estimated prevalence in the general population.
Dr. Casement explained, “In this nationally representative sample of youth presenting to EDs, suicidal ideation was predicted by a sleep disorder diagnosis alone and when accounting for mental health diagnoses. Furthermore, youth with a sleep disorder and either a mood or psychotic disorder had greater risk for suicidal ideation than youth with only one of these disorders. Especially considering our finding that sleep disorders are underdiagnosed in youth presenting to EDs, these results highlight the potential benefit of enhanced screening for sleep disorders as a tool for suicide prevention.”
“Sleep and mental health have an important and compelling connection, which has been part of our recent work at National Sleep Foundation. These investigators have added to the body of evidence about this relationship, specifically identifying the risk of suicidal ideation and attempt in adolescents who have a diagnosed sleep disorder. National Sleep Foundation is committed to helping all members of society, both young and older, with their sleep health—which, in turn, may yield valuable gains in mental wellness.” said NSF Vice President of Research and Scientific Affairs, Joseph Dzierzewski, PhD.
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. The NSF is committed to understanding the associations between sleep health characteristics and mental health in the general population and is especially focused on insights that may inform public health campaigns. For more information about sleep health and mental health, visit theNSF.org/sleep-health-topics.
For anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek care. Seek care at your nearest emergency facility or, in the United States, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
About the National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice. theNSF.org
About Sleep Health®: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation
The landmark, award-winning peer-reviewed journal Sleep Health publishes the latest studies on the cross-section of sleep’s role in population health and the social sciences from global, multidisciplinary perspectives. SleepHealthJournal.org