Sleep researchers working to put focus on improvement

A stock photo of a woman enjoying good sleep. Photo by grinvalds /GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTOArticle content

Did you sleep well? For growing numbers of Canadians, the answer is a weary No.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor

Article content

Whether it is related to general stress, more specific — maybe U.S. President Donald Trump-related — stress or other lifestyle factors, sleep researchers are seeing concerning signs about how Canadians are sleeping.

Article content

“We know that a lot of Canadians are not getting the right amount of sleep,” says Rebecca Robillard, who is co-chair of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium. Robillard also directs clinical sleep research at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal.

Article content

“A lot of people are sleep-deprived and a lot are having insomnia symptoms.”

Article content

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

Sleep is a key contributor to overall health, sleep experts say, and poor sleep quality can cause real health harms.

Article content

“Canada has a way to go to improve our sleep health to the same extent we have been seeing for nutrition and exercise,” says Robillard.

Article content

The Sleep Research Consortium is inviting Canadians to take part in an online program to learn more about sleep and to track their own sleep. It is part of the Week for Better Sleep initiative. Participants have until March 22 to sign up.

Article content

Knowing more about what makes good quality sleep and helping people understand their own sleep is an important step toward improved sleep and making sure people reap its benefits, Robillard says.

Article content

Recent research by the Sleep Research Consortium suggests many Canadians are not.

Article content

According to a survey conducted in the fall of 2024, insomnia is increasing, with higher rates among women, and growing numbers of people in Canada are using aids to help them get to sleep. Nearly 15 per cent of people surveyed were using prescription medicine to sleep and the percentage of people using alcohol had doubled in the past 16 years (to 9.7 per cent).

Article content

Rebecca Robillard, co-chair of the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, directs clinical sleep research at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at The Royal. Photo by The Royal /HANDOUTArticle content

Robillard notes that alcohol might help people to fall asleep, but it would disrupt their quality of sleep. “It is really concerning,” she says.

Article content

As part of the effort to educate people about sleep and give them feedback, the Sleep Research Consortium has developed a sleep diary app based on six dimensions of sleep health: duration, continuity, timing, alertness, regularity and satisfaction.

Article content

It is not just about the number of hours of sleep people get, but the quality of that sleep, she says. And Robillard cautions that becoming too obsessed about sleep can itself be a stressor that disrupts sleep. Setting realistic expectations is important, she says.

Article content

“Sometimes people get overly worried about their sleep.”

Article content

People who sign up can learn more about their own sleep through personalized assessments. Participants are given information, asked to fill out questionnaires and invited to fill out sleep diaries each morning for a week. At the end of the week, participants will receive personalized reports on their sleep. Participation is anonymous.

Article content

Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.

Article content