Insomnia on your mind
What Are the Connections Between Sleep and Mental Health?
The link between poor sleep and mental health issues is nothing new. Classic literature, from Don Quixote to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, has long depicted how sleep disruptions can impact the mind—and vice versa.
Today, I’m often asked about the relationship between sleep and mental health. In our ever-changing world, it’s no surprise these topics remain top of mind.
Social isolation, job uncertainty, and the stress of living in a post-pandemic world all take a toll. And while technology has brought great advances, we’re still making the same sleep mistakes as Lady Macbeth and Don Quixote.
Let’s explore the key connections between sleep and mental health—and how you can improve both.
How Sleep Affects Your Mental Health
Poor sleep increases the risk of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. A 2014 study involving children aged 9–16 found that chronic sleep problems predicted both generalised anxiety and oppositional defiant disorder.
Lack of rest makes it harder to cope with stress. Acute sleep deprivation can worsen anxiety and depression—even in otherwise healthy people.
REM Sleep and Emotional Balance
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is crucial for emotional processing and memory. Poor REM sleep affects your ability to retain positive memories, which can lead to mood instability and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
REM is also vital for learning and brain function. Studies on animals show that a lack of REM sleep shortens lifespan and impairs mental performance.
Resilience and Empathy Decline
Sleep deprivation weakens psychological resilience. Your brain doesn’t get the time it needs to recharge or clear toxins. As a result, you may feel overwhelmed more easily and take longer to recover from emotional stress.
Lack of sleep also impairs empathy. One study found that sleep-deprived people struggled to interpret emotional facial expressions, especially anger and happiness.
Work Performance and Productivity
When you’re tired, your productivity and collaboration skills decline. A report by Deloitte Access Economics estimated sleep disorders cost the Australian economy $36.4 billion. That’s why HR teams are paying attention.
Fatigue reduces your compassion, sharpens conflict, and weakens your cognitive and social skills—all of which affect workplace performance.
How Mental Health Affects Your Sleep
It’s a two-way street. Just as sleep impacts your mental health, mental health challenges can harm your sleep.
Anxiety and Hyperarousal
Anxiety can trigger insomnia, nightmares, and heightened sleep reactivity—where stress causes more severe sleep disruptions. When you’re anxious, your body stays alert, activating the fight-or-flight response. This “hyperarousal” makes it harder to relax and fall asleep.
Depression and Hypersomnia
Most people with depression experience sleep problems. You may struggle to fall or stay asleep—or experience hypersomnia, where you sleep excessively and irregularly.
Estimates show 15%–40% of people with depression also experience hypersomnia. Poor sleep worsens depressive symptoms, creating a vicious cycle.
ADHD and Sleep Challenges
Sleep issues affect up to 80% of adults with ADHD. Even the lower estimates—around 43%—show a strong link. Restlessness and stimulant medications can both make it hard to sleep.
What You Can Do
Since sleep and mental health are so closely connected, improving both is key.
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✔ Practice breathing exercises and mindfulness to reduce anxiety.
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✔ Use gratitude journaling, regular movement, and healthy eating to manage depression.
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✔ Prioritise rest as a tool for productivity, kindness, and better relationships.
Take Action Today
Even if your workplace is overwhelmed and sleep-deprived, you don’t have to be. Start by improving your own rest and managing stress. You’ll set a powerful example.
Get the sleep you need. Show up with more compassion, calm, and clarity—both at work and in your community.