Sleep Awareness Week Seeks Survey Participants

More than two million Australian adults - over 10% of the population - suffer from a sleep disorder, clinical insomnia or sleep apnea. Sleep disorders cost the Australian economy more than $5.1 billion per year. The reduction in life quality caused by sleep disorders has a further cost equivalent of $31.4 billion a year.
The Sleep Health Foundation has launched Sleep Awareness Week this week 6-12 July to promote the benefits of eight hours a night as a means to feel more alert, energised, decisive, happy and less prone to catching winter bugs.
The annual event also comes with an online sleep survey that hopes to capture the night-time activities of the average Australian in order to offer advice on how to sleep better. The campaign will include advice to help busy workers, students and those in safety-first roles like truck driving and heavy machinery operation to get a good night’s sleep so they can boost daytime productivity and safety.
Backed up by a website full of information on the top ten sleep disorders, questions to ask your GP or specialist, resources for carers and teachers, as well as good sleeping habits for those with depression, anxiety and diagnosed sleep apnea, the Sleep Health Foundation’s campaign includes extra resources for Sleep Awareness Week including a sleep diary.
The Foundation’s Sleep Better, Be Better message is not just for nocturnal nappers: it includes information for shiftworkers, carers of children and the elderley.