Teenagers who went to bed after midnight were more likely to be depressed
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A new study suggests teenagers who go to bed earlier are better protected against depression and suicidal thoughts.
In the study of 15,500 12 to 18 year olds, those who went to bed after midnight were 24 per cent more likely to have depression than those who went to bed before 10pm.
Those who slept fewer than five hours a night had a 71 per cent higher risk of depression and 48 per cent higher risk of suicidal thoughts than those who slept eight hours.
One in 15 of those studied by the Columbia University Medical Center in New York were found to be suffering from depression.
The research also found those who were allowed by their parents to go to bed after midnight were a fifth more likely to think about committing suicide than those who went to bed at 10pm or earlier.
The teenagers in the study who said they “usually get enough sleep” were 65 per cent less likely to be depressed than those who admitted to not getting enough sleep.
It is estimated around 80,000 children and young people in the UK have depression. Nine hours sleep is recommended for teenagers, yet the average amount of sleep for teenagers in the study was seven hours and 53 minutes.
Sarah Brennan, chief executive at the mental health charity YoungMinds, said, ‘Enough sleep, good food and regular exercise are all essential to stay emotionally healthy. Nearly 80,000 children and young people suffer with depression, yet we are still failing to provide our young people with the help and support to cope with it and prevent it. Providing parents with information about how to look after your body, for example by getting enough sleep, and how to get help if they are worried about their teenager, will ensure problems are tackled early and prevent serious mental health conditions such as depression.’
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