OVERVIEW

Healthy Sleep Supports a Healthy Mind forms part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a coordinated programme of national public education presented by SleepSafeCanada to improve sleep health awareness across Canada.

Mental health and healthy sleep are closely interconnected. Poor sleep can contribute to anxiety, depression, reduced concentration, emotional distress and impaired daily functioning, while many mental health conditions can also disrupt healthy sleep. The relationship is bidirectional, with each influencing the other. By encouraging Canadians to recognise healthy sleep as a foundation of mental wellbeing, this initiative aims to improve understanding, reduce stigma and promote healthier lives through better sleep.

WHY IT MATTERS

Mental health challenges affect millions of Canadians and place an increasing burden on individuals, families, workplaces and the already challenged healthcare system. At the same time, healthy sleep remains one of the most overlooked contributors to mental wellbeing too. Achieving enough quality, quantity and continuity of sleep can improve emotional resilience, concentration, mood and overall well-being while supporting the treatment of anxiety, depression and other common mental health conditions. Healthy sleep may also play an important part in the assistance of recovery from addiction and substance use disorders, strengthen resilience and contribute to better long-term health outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Healthy Sleep Supports a Healthy Mind is observed throughout the month of January as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar. The initiative was established to promote greater public understanding of the close relationship between healthy sleep and mental wellbeing while encouraging healthy sleep as a fundamental component of lifelong mental health, resilience and recovery.

For many years, sleep was often regarded simply as a consequence of good or poor mental health. Advances in sleep science have demonstrated that the relationship works in both directions. Poor sleep can contribute to the development and progression of mental health problems, while improving sleep may support treatment, recovery and resilience. Recognising this close relationship provides an important opportunity to improve both individual wellbeing and public health.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The Sleep Society and SleepSafeCanada are currently working to:

• Promote public awareness of the relationship between healthy sleep and mental wellbeing.
• Develop educational resources for the public, healthcare professionals, workplaces and community organisations.
• Support annual awareness activities throughout January as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar.
• Encourage collaboration with healthcare organisations, hospitals, educational institutions, governments and recovery organisations.
• Build partnerships and national support with industry to expand the initiative across Canada.

ENDORSEMENTS

We welcome the endorsement of governments, healthcare organisations, universities, professional associations and community organisations that support the aims of this initiative and greater awareness of the importance of healthy sleep to mental wellbeing.

THANKS TO – (Link to Partners, Supporters and Sponsors – in preparation)

PARTNERS

We collaborate with organisations that actively support the development, delivery and promotion of this initiative through education, research, collaboration and public engagement.

THANKS TO – (Link to Partners, Supporters and Sponsors – in preparation)

SUPPORTERS

We gratefully acknowledge organisations, businesses and individuals who support the aims of this initiative and help raise awareness within their communities and networks.

THANKS TO – (Link to Partners, Supporters and Sponsors – in preparation)

SPONSORS

We gratefully recognise organisations whose financial or in-kind support helps make this initiative possible and extends its reach across Canada.

THANKS TO – (Link to Partners, Supporters and Sponsors – in preparation)

RESOURCES

Access articles, fact sheets, videos, posters and downloadable resources relating to this initiative.

LEARN MORE (Link to Resources – in preparation)

SLEEPSAFECANADA

Canada’s National Sleep Health Awareness Calendar

CANADA’S SLEEP CALENDAR – (Link to static Calendar)

SleepSafeCanada promotes public awareness of the importance of healthy sleep through Canada’s Sleep Calendar, national education campaigns, community engagement and public health initiatives that encourage healthier, safer and more productive lives. Every Canadian plays a role in our health and safety.

HEALTHY SLEEP SUPPORTS A HEALTHY MIND

FIND OUT MORE (Link to Mental Health Resources – in preparation)

THE SLEEP SOCIETY

The Sleep Society brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, organisations and industry to advance sleep health through collaboration, education and research. Visitors can explore professional education, connect with Canada’s growing interdisciplinary sleep health community and locate healthcare professionals with an interest in sleep health.

FIND OUT MORE – (Link to TSS)

GET INVOLVED

GET INVOLVED – (Link to Mental Health Resources – in preparation)

Help raise awareness of the initiative by sharing information, encouraging healthy sleep and supporting education about the important relationship between sleep and mental wellbeing.

MEDIA CENTRE

Access news, media releases, campaign updates and other information relating to Healthy Sleep Supports a Healthy Mind.

FIND OUT MORE – (Link to Mental Health Resources – in preparation)

TOGETHER

The Sleep Society has selected Web Hosting Canada as its Strategic Technology Partner, supporting the continued development, delivery and national growth of this initiative while helping build the digital infrastructure needed to support future collaboration to improve the quality, quantity and continuity of sleep across Canada.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF CANADA

SleepSafeCanada respectfully acknowledges the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada and their enduring relationship with these lands.

LEARN MORE — (link to a new page entitled Sleep Health in Indigenous Communities in preparation)