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Sleep plays a critical role in the overall health and wellbeing of your child, and its impact on mental health cannot be overstated.

Sleep is essential for physical growth, proper cognitive development and emotion regulation. For school-aged children in particular, sleep consolidates their learning.  

Excessive screen time, including video games and social media, especially before bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns, making it harder for children and young people to wind down, fall asleep and stay asleep. 

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There is a strong relationship between your child’s sleep and their mental health.

Difficulties with mental health can disrupt sleep patterns. For example, your child may have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, leading to insomnia, nightmares or other sleep disturbances. On the other hand, inadequate sleep can exacerbate existing mental health problems and increase the risk of developing new ones.  

Promoting good sleep hygiene practices and addressing sleep problems is crucial for supporting your child’s mental health.  

We recommend seeking guidance from healthcare professionals, such as your child’s GP or paediatrician, who can help support you to identify any underlying causes of your child’s sleep difficulties and work with you to access appropriate interventions and strategies to improve their sleep. 

Primary school girls in playground at school jumping and smiling

Fact sheets

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