Poor sleep silently contributes to anxiety, depression

A radical shift is needed in how people think about sleep, with experts warning that poor rest is quietly fuelling anxiety, depression and reduced productivity.

This is according to clinical psychologist Tony de Gouveia, who practices at Netcare Akeso Alberton. He says sleep is still widely underestimated as a pillar of mental well-being.

“Just how much our sleep affects our mental health and well-being is generally vastly underestimated,” De Gouveia says.

“The role of poor sleep in anxiety and depression is well documented. It’s not only our physical energy that is replenished during sleep, but it is also essential for our cognitive functioning and emotional regulation.”

He warns that between a third and half of people regularly fail to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night, a trend he described as concerning in an already high-stress society.

“Burning the midnight oil is the enemy of productivity and creativity, yet when we are under pressure, rest is often the first thing we tend to sacrifice. We need to rethink how we value our sleep. Rest is fundamental to productivity, not its opposite,” he says.