Each year the Mental Health Foundation uses this week in the calendar to work with people and organisations across the UK to help raise awareness of important public mental health issues which are often neglected.

Previous years have seen innovative campaigns raising awareness of topics such as ‘Fear and Anxiety’ and ‘Loneliness.’ The theme this year is Sleep.

Sleep is as important to our health as eating, drinking and breathing and poor sleep can increase the risks of having poor health. Yet up to one third of us currently suffer from insomnia or another sleep disorder and the latest research shows how sleep disorders put sufferers at significantly greater risk of health problems ranging from depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder to immune deficiency and heart disease. Sleep disorders can inhibit the very essence of who we are – our relationships, our mood, our ability to concentrate, function and complete day to day tasks. These factors can have a major impact on our health and wellbeing. In January they launched the year long campaign by publishing a major new report on the subject entitled ‘Sleep Matters.’

To accompany this, they have produced a range of resources including the Sleep Well pocket guide to better sleep, a printable Sleep Diary and a Sleep Relaxation MP3, which are each available from our dedicated website

www.howdidyousleep.org