Sleep deprivation is a crucial component of the rise of mental health issues among youth.

Question

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-07-22/mental-health-sleep-deprivation-teens

Only 20% of high schoolers are getting adequate sleep at night. Furthermore, there is evidence that this lack of sleep is linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicide rates. It also is related to lack of judgement and impulsive tendencies, and it is important to modify one's behavior to improve their sleeping habits.

Comments

I agree that many young individuals who are sleep deprived have more impact on their mental health which affects their performance in their academics, work setting, and overall lifestyle. Your body can't function well when your body isn't fully rested, which can cause mood swings and lack of concentration. If they are already struggling with certain disorders, then this makes it more stressful for them.

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Yes this makes sense for lack of sleep to be the cause of mental health issues rising for teens. Many teens stay up much later than they have to because of distractions, like phones, or other issues. But a main issue are the phones, this is causing teens to stay up and lose the crucial sleeping hours they need to be able to function properly and efficiently. I have noticed at times where i have not gotten enough sleep over a period of time, I am a lot more grumpier, lazy, unmotivated, look and feel worse, and just dont feel good in general. Once you realize how much rest actually effects your life, its much easier to put down those distractions so that you can benefit more. Especially as teens, its hard to accept that and be aware of it to make that difference, but it would definitely help with the rise of mental health.

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This is a valid and great post. It is true that teenagers who are sleep deprived have a decreasing mental-health due to not getting the rest their body and mind needs as growing individuals. If they were already having a hard time with different mental illnesses it can cause a more stress induced time for them because of not sleeping.

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I agree, we also as a collective are bad at judging our abilities when we are sleep-deprived. We underestimate how bad sleep impairment affects our cognitive ability. I think phones may be a huge cause of our mental health, especially with sort form content.

Answer 1

The claim that Sleep deprivation is a crucial component of the rise of mental health issues is true. To start Mental health issues in youth has increased 25% from 2016 to 2019 and from 2008 to 2020 suicide rates have rose in ages over 12 but more specifically the 12-17 range has increased 58%. Inadequate sleep affects communication in the brain that will affect decision making, emotional regulation and many functions necessary for stable mental health. Youth that don't get enough have hormonal imbalances causing a higher risk of getting disorders like anxiety and depression. Sleeping is crucial for growth and brain development. Lack of this development is known to have a long term effect on mental health. The evidence from the national heart, lung and blood institute as well as the national library of medicine shows that sleep does play a crucial role in the rise of mental health issues in youth. Sources:

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10136689/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587174/#:~:text=Nearly%2020%25%20of%20children%20and,in%20the%20decade%20before%202019.

Answer 2

   This claim is true—young teens and older adolescents are experiencing mental and physical exhaustion from lack of sleep. The original article cited reliable medical and health sources related to the topic and from my research, I came across an article from Stanford University. The University paper described a Stanford sleep study that debunked the concept that the older we get the less sleep we need. Both articles also provided various factors that contribute to what is referred to as “sleep debt” (Stanford University) which include extracurriculars, early school hours, and screentime, increasing suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety, ultimately resulting in sleep deprivation. This group of young teens to early aged adults are unable to perform at their best (impaired judgment) because they do not have the time to receive the necessary eight to ten hours of sleep. The Stanford article provides anatomical evidence that describes how our body is not able to function when we do not keep up with a consistent sleep pattern. This sleep rhythm disruption not only affects these targeted individuals mentally but also physically. One’s hunger could be affected, disarranging their metabolism and eating habits. The analysis created by the American Academy of Pediatrics (cited by the original article) emphasizes the need for schools to begin later in the day. Various other sleep studies have demonstrated that pushing forth this act would increase sleep and overall create a healthier lifestyle for the affected age range. 

Sources:

• Among Teens, Sleep Deprivation an Epidemic https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/10/among-teens-sleep-deprivation-an-epidemic.html
• School Start Time for Adolescents https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/134/3/642/74175/School-Start-Times-for-Adolescents?autologincheck=redirected

Answer 3

This claim is sleep is a crucial component in adolescent development and sleep deprivation is proven to inhibit emotional regulation and predispose you to higher levels stress and anxiety. Overtime this can be detrimental to your psyche and social development increasing your risk of suicidal ideations. An article from PMC (PubMed Central) also mentions the use of the internet/ social media in the late hours of the night affecting sleep habits in adolescents that can be traced as a cause of these issues.

“Although relations between insomnia and psychiatric disorders are bidirectional, the strongest pathways have been shown to extend from early sleep disturbances in youth to later mental disorders [90], highlighting the importance of adolescence as a critical developmental window for preventive strategies.” (PMC)

“The increase in persistent sadness and hopelessness among high schoolers is just as alarming. From 2011 to 2021, the rate of this condition per 100,000 teens leaped from 28,459 to 42,347. That is a 49% increase, or an average of 4% per year.” (PMC)

These are a few of the studies linked to the PubMed Central article that best represent the discussion:

A meta-analysis and model of the relationship between sleep and depression in adolescents: Recommendations for future research and clinical practice - ScienceDirect

Normal Sleep in Children and Adolescence - Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics

Insomnia disorder in adolescence: Diagnosis, impact, and treatment - ScienceDirect

Answer 4

Sleep deprivation is indeed linked to mental health problems, especially in youth. Lack of sleep can affect mood, cognitive function, and overall mental well-being, and it has been associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress in adolescents. Research shows that teens need about 8-10 hours of sleep each night, but many don't get enough due to factors like school schedules, screen time, and social pressures. While sleep deprivation alone may not cause mental health issues, it is a significant contributing factor that can worsen existing conditions and make it harder for young people to cope with stress.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – Sleep and Mental Health

Answer 5

This claim is true. The sources used in the article by the LA times are valid and legit. Many reputable sites backup the claim that both: Teens arn't getting enough sleep and that this effects the mental health of the youth. There are many factors to why teens arnt getting enough sleep and sleep deprivation has been connected to mental well-being. many sources such as this one: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects back up the claim.

Answer 6

In the article linked below by Stanford Medicine, they talk about how we are living “among a generation of teens growing up chronically sleep-deprived”. According to the article and a 2006 National Sleep Foundation poll, the organization's most recent survey of teen sleep, more than 87 percent of high school students in the United States get far less than the recommended eight to 10 hours, and the amount of time they sleep is decreasing - a serious threat to their health, safety and academic success. Highlighting the negative impacts that sleep deprivation can cause.

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/10/among-teens-sleep-deprivation-an-epidemic.html#:~:text=Sleep%20deprivation%20increases%20the%20likelihood%20teens%20will,thoughts%20of%20suicide%20and%20even%20suicide%20attempts.&text=Sleep%20is%20believed%20to%20help%20regulate%20emotions%2C,such%20as%20anxiety%2C%20depression%20and%20bipolar%20disorder.

 

In this article published by the National Library of Medicine, they explain the complex role of sleep in adolescent depression. Sleep deprivation has significant and adverse impacts. “Studies suggest a strong link between sleep disturbance and behavioral problems in youth, in part because sleep deprivation undermines emotion regulation the following day”. Highlighting the negative impacts that come from sleep deprivation and how it does and can affect mental well being as well as many other components of one’s all around health.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3605974/#:~:text=Sleep%20disturbance%20and%20behavioral%20problems,emotion%20regulation%20the%20following%20day.&text=Sleep%20problems%20are%20similarly%20associated%20with%20increased%20risk%20of%20suicidality.&text=Across%20multiple%20studies%20conducted%20in,to%20school%20absenteeism%20and%20dropout.&text=Academic%20performance%20also%20declines%2C15,sleep%20for%20learning%20and%20memory.

Answer 7

LA Times uses reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

They also use Dr. Maida Chen who is the director of the Sleep Center at Seattle Children Hospital. She says that most teens who are suicidal usually have mood disorders like depression or anxiety and can wornsen by lack of sleep. 

I found another article that supports this claim, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute they quote, ”A common myth is that people can learn to get by on little sleep with no negative effects. However, research shows that getting enough quality sleep at the right times is vital for mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.” So overall this claim is true

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation

Answer 8

After a thorough investigation on this topic, I am now able to determine that this a completely true statement, posted by a very reliable source in the Los Angeles Times. There however, arent too many different posts on this topic so it feels like the message hasn't fully gotten out there enough yet. The author is also a reliable source that has reported on similar topics such as this before. 

Answer 9

Sleep deprivation being linked to an increase in youth mental health issues is valid. The data numbers for this claim, "20% of high schoolers are getting adequate sleep at night." matches their provided source, an Op-Ed from the LA Times called "Sleep deprivation is an important part of our youth mental health crisis". This article's main argument can be summarized by when they said, "This chronic sleep loss exacerbates depression, anxiety, and even suicidality," which was backed by an analysis on PubMed, which stated: "Pooled results indicated that less sleep was associated with a 55% increase in the likelihood of mood deficits." Other sources like Stanford Medicine and NIH.gov have similar results in this area, indicating a link between depression and sleep deprivation.

Answer 10

The article linked about sleep deprivation and its impact on youth mental health is true. It highlights how California's new law on later school start times is designed to tackle chronic sleep loss, which is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality in teens. The article explains how poor sleep worsens these conditions, citing experts research and CDC findings. I trust this article because it comes from a well-established public health perspective, using credible sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Surgeon General to back up its claims.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-07-22/mental-health-sleep-deprivation-teens