Sleep and mental health in children and adolescents

Mental health is of prime importance among children and adolescents, posing a significant disease burden during and across the lifespan. Mental health is affected by sleep in several ways. The present chapter summarizes extant research on the relationship between sleep factors, such as sleep duration and sleep quality, and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. Overall, insufficient and poor-quality sleep is associated with worse mood and emotion regulation, as well as increased likelihood of developing a mood or anxiety disorder, and heightened risk of suicidal ideation. To address this important public health concern, we provide specific recommendations and suggestions for how families, schools, clinicians and public policy makers can improve sleep, and thus mental health, among young people.