Mental health researchers at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) at The Royal continually strive to answer some of the biggest questions we have in mental health care, and address some of the most relevant and pressing issues of our day.
Keeping many people up at night right now is, of course, the pandemic.
While sleep and mental health issues are something to be expected given current circumstances, having a fulsome picture of the situation allows for a targeted response and allocation of resources.
A recent study led by Dr. Rébecca Robillard and published in the Journal of Sleep Research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is seriously affecting sleep habits, leading to further stress and anxiety, as well as usage of sleep medications.
Robillard and her team, which comprised nearly two dozen scientists across North America, conducted an online survey of 5,525 Canadians during the early phase of the pandemic.
Half of the survey participants reported having serious sleep difficulties during the pandemic. Some people reported sleeping more, while those who have later or shorter sleep cycles showed increased symptoms of insomnia and worsening symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.
Robillard’s team also saw an increase in the use of sleeping medication, which may forecast a surge in more complex chronic insomnia cases in the long run.
These findings highlight the urgent need to rapidly build and deploy interventions to address distinct profiles of sleep problems that emerged during the pandemic, in Canada and around the world.
Learn more about this study and other research initiatives during The Royal’s Research Week, November 29-December 3, 2021.
About Research Week
During this week, we have an exciting schedule of activities planned to highlight the many ways that Research at The Royal’s team of world-class scientists, researchers and students are enhancing prevention, intervention and innovation in the mental health and substance use health.
For further details visit theroyal.ca or contact:
Michaela Berniquez, Communications Coordinator
michaela.berniquez@theroyal.ca | +1 (613) 218-5225