Samantha Li/Edge columnist

Of approximately two million Canadians between the ages of 14 and 18 years, as many as 975,000 suffer from a serious lack of sleep according to The Douglas Research Center. On top of that, almost 13% of teenagers are experiencing severe insomnia. Unfortunately, this major issue has yet to be solved, and more attention needs to be paid to it.

Teenagers are sleeping one hour less on average than they did 20 years ago, as reported by Toronto Star. 60 to 70 percent of today’s teenagers do not get the necessary seven to nine hours of sleep every night. On weeknights, many receive just around six hours of sleep, compared to the recommended amount of eight to 10 hours according to the Canadian Paediatric Society, this qualifies as serious sleep deprivation.

“I noticed that many students in my first block show signs of sleep deprivation,” said Janet Kim, Korean, fashion, and  photography teacher. “If I start the lesson right at 9 a.m., they cannot really focus on what we are doing, so I have to give them 5 to 10 minutes to settle in and get ready. Even then, their body language and facial expression show that they are tired first thing in the morning,” Added Kim

Adolescence is a vital stage for teens’ brain and body mechanics development. With chronic sleep deprivation, teenagers are at risk for poor concentration, drowsy driving, weight gain, and mental health issues such as depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety.

As the research article on Technology Network indicates, teenagers undergoing short sleep consumed more foods that are likely to be high-sugary. It is calculated that sleep-deprived teens can end up consuming 4.5 extra pounds of sugar per school year, leading to problems such as obesity.

 “I always find it hard to focus during the day if I stayed up late the day before,” said Olivia Cao, grade 11. “Because of my messed up sleeping schedule, times of my breakfast, lunch, and dinner are messed up too, and I don’t feel as energized as before.”

While social media, usage of screen, overscheduling, and caffeine drinks can be potential factors that cause shorter sleeping hours for teens, parents and schools should recognize more reasons behind and the necessity of helping teens strategically.

Sleep is often viewed as a “disposable item” in society, especially for teens at the age of entering college. When facing more tasks and responsibilities, sleep is the first thing to sacrifice. As a result, raising teen’s awareness of the importance of enough sleep hours would be the priority. Listen for opportunities to bring up sleep in the context of anything teens are interested in and build their self-motivation through encouragement.

Building the concept of a “healthy sleep routine” is also crucial as many teenagers are not familiar with the science behind sleep patterns. Based on CNN Health, a brain clock of sleeping can be formed by being consistent with sleeping time, and maintaining this clock will improve sleep quality. Waking up within one or two hours of weekday wake-up times on Saturday and Sunday keeps the brain clock in sync and makes it simpler to fall asleep at the appropriate time on Sunday night.

“Time management is a big thing for me, because of this, I sometimes have to cut my sleeping hours and my sleep times become really random. If parents and school can give me some tips or methods and help me during the process, I think I can improve a lot in building a healthier sleep routine,” said Linda Huang, grade 11.

Sources:

“Sleep and children: the impact of lack of sleep on daily life” by The Douglas Research Center

“Sleep-Deprived Teens Consume 4.5 Extra Pounds of Sugar Per School Year” by Technology Networks

“Lack of sleep is ‘epidemic’ among Canadian teens. Here’s why it has doctors worried” by Duncan McCue on CBC News

“Teens and sleep: Why you need it and how to get enough” by Caring for Kids

“Ending teen sleep struggles — is it possible?” by Michelle Icard, CNN

“Dazed and confused: More than half of teenagers are chronically sleep-deprived” by Sarah Moore Special to the Star on Toronto Star

Among teens, sleep deprivation an epidemic | News Center | Stanford Medicine