Better Sleep For Better Health

Introduction

Project: Better sleep for better health -physical health, sleep health, public health

 

Theory:

Bidirectional relationship with physical activity: being physically active improves sleep and lack of sleep related to lower levels of physical activity

 

Plan: similar idea as Flippin’ Pain around educating health professionals and public around sleep issues, myth busting and simplified messaging which is unified across the region

 

Health Professional approach:

-video training to be accessed in their own time, short, accurate, simple

 

-university links, similar idea as PACC is sleep/PA integrated onto current course content if now can we embed this

 

-link with GPs to embed information, videos on websites, waiting rooms, econsult, apps, set up within GP notes so patients could be texted/emailed link to Sleepful (CBTi)

 

-focus on upskilling staff, CBTi (CBT for insomnia) is taught during GP course however sleep is often not mentioned during consultations

 

-promote use of Sleepful- this is a self-directed CBTi program which is free, if health professionals promoted this instead of referring to other services (Talking Therapies/ sleep clinics) would save time/ money

 

Public:

-simple messaging via posters, infographics, short videos that can be shared via partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other work streams to link into:

-workforce health – high levels of shift work in TV, better sleep = more productivity, high staff retention, lower absenteeism

 

 -chronic pain/ Flippin’ Pain – chronic pain impacts sleep and Opioids induce respiratory depression leading to sleep apnoea, poor sleep links to poor management of pain conditions

 

-mental health – poor sleep and mental health have strong corelations

 

-elite sport – impact of sleep on performance

 

-CYP – sleep is integral for brain development, linked to behaviour issues etc.

 

 

Resources needed:

-sourcing or creating infographics/ videos -scope to create bespoke info for different projects e.g. sleep for mental health, sleep for menopause etc.

 

-links with current health partners 

Useful Links

• https://sleepful.me/
• https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Patient-poster.pdf
• https://healthinnovationnenc.org.uk/what-we-do/improving-population-health/medicines-optimisation/reduce-opioid-prescribing/ouch-opioid-use-change/