Canada’s national sleep health and safety initiative
Sleep is a biological necessity. There is no substitute.
SleepSafeCanada, presented by The Sleep Society, is changing how Canadians think about sleep and why it matters to our health, wellbeing, performance and safety.
Why it matters
Sleep impairment is a health and safety issue
Sleep influences our physical health, mental wellbeing, learning, productivity, relationships, safety and quality of life. Yet despite remarkable advances in sleep science and sleep medicine, millions of people continue to live with undiagnosed sleep disorders, inadequate sleep or poor sleep health.
Health
Healthy sleep depends on sufficient quantity and quality of sleep, together with appropriate timing, regularity and continuity throughout life.
Safety
Every day, sleep impairment can contribute to motor vehicle collisions, workplace accidents and medical errors. Many are potentially preventable.
Performance
Poor sleep affects learning, decision-making, productivity and quality of life at home, at school and at work.
Canada’s Sleep Calendar
Twelve months. Twelve ways sleep shapes our lives.
Presented by The Sleep Society through SleepSafeCanada, the Calendar is a coordinated, year-round program of public education and awareness. Each month focuses on a different aspect of sleep, health, wellbeing or safety. Select a month to explore its topic.
01 January
Healthy Sleep Supports a Healthy Mind
Promoting better sleep for mental wellbeing, resilience and quality of life.
02 February
Sleep & Cardiovascular Health
Raising awareness of the powerful link between sleep and heart health.
03 March
Your Body Clock Matters
Understanding circadian rhythm and timing for better sleep, energy and health.
04 April
Sleep Always Comes First
Putting sleep at the top of the list for better health, safety and performance.
06 June
Understanding Insomnia
How to recognize, understand and manage insomnia for better nights and brighter days.
07 July
The Challenge of Shift Work
Supporting the health, safety and sleep of shift workers and their families.
08 August
Healthy Children Need Healthy Sleep
Building healthy sleep habits from infancy through adolescence.
09 September
Sleep-Impaired Driving Awareness Canada
Sleep impairment is driving impairment. Raising awareness and preventing tragedy.
10 October
Look Good Feel Younger
Understanding the connection between sleep, appearance and healthy aging.
11 November
Sleep Impairment Is Work Impairment
Promoting safe, productive workplaces through better sleep health.
Where an established national or international awareness day or month already exists, SleepSafeCanada aligns its initiative with that observance. Where none exists, SleepSafeCanada has developed its own evidence-based campaign to address gaps in public sleep health education, awareness and safety.
Changing language changes understanding.
Changing understanding changes behaviour.
Changing behaviour can save lives.
Looking ahead
Supporting our healthcare system
A healthier Canada would relieve significant pressure on our healthcare system, but our need for healthcare will always remain. Alongside its public awareness program, The Sleep Society has developed the Canada Healthcare Bonds proposal for consideration by provincial and federal governments.
By drawing on government treasury and existing financial infrastructure, the proposal presents a potentially practical, sustainable and fiscally responsible approach to supporting healthcare, while giving Canadians an opportunity to invest directly in their country’s healthcare system.
News
Latest from SleepSafeCanada
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The WHC Alliance
SleepSafeCanada is a Canadian initiative with a simple objective: to improve public understanding and give practical advice, that can be used around the importance of adequate quality, quantity and continuity of sleep…
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SleepSafeInternational
A Shared International Approach to Sleep Health and Safety SleepSafe International is being developed from the SleepSafeCanada model to help increase the profile of sleep health and safety internationally. SleepSafeCanada has developed…
An invitation
Better sleep benefits us all
We invite individuals, healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, organizations, employers, community groups and industry partners across the country to support, participate in and share these initiatives within their own communities. By working together, we can improve the health of our country.
Acknowledgement
SleepSafeCanada respectfully acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples have lived on the lands now known as Canada since time immemorial. We recognize and respect the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, their histories, cultures and continuing presence across Canada.
As a national initiative, SleepSafeCanada operates across many different traditional and treaty territories. All Canadians share the same biological need for optimal quality, quantity and continuity of sleep. We encourage Canadians to learn more about the Indigenous Peoples and traditional territories of the communities in which they live.
Learn more about the history, cultures and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada