Sleep and Suicide

Poor sleep quality increases the risk for both suicidal thinking and suicide attempts, say a new study.

Researchers at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and the University of Warsaw in Poland analyzed data from a U.S. national survey of more than 5,000 people in the general population. Almost 3% of the respondents reported having suicidal thinking and about one in 200 had actually attempted suicide. Of those who reported suicidal thinking or behavior, about one third also reported having problems with sleep during the prior year.

Those who reported sleep problems were 7.5 times more likely to have attempted suicide, 9.1 times more likely to have planned suicide and 5.1 times more likely to have had suicidal thoughts.

The more sleep-related complaints the respondents had - such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep and awakening too early - the more their risks for suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts increased.

The researchers speculated that poor sleep might contribute to suicidality because it makes people have bad judgment, impulsivity, fatigue and feelings of hopelessness.

The takeaway lesson from this study is that sleep has some very important effects on our mental health. If you are experiencing problems with your sleep, your first option is to follow a program to improve your sleep hygiene like this one. If these steps fail, however, you should consult your physician for assistance.