All is not well with the health of youth in the city. A recent study has found that most of the college going youth, both male and women students, are suffering from disturbed sleep which if ignored can impact their physical and mental health.
The Delhi-based Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences (CIMBS) had surveyed 500 college-going youth across the city and found that 34 per cent of women students and 15.7 per cent of male students reported having disturbed sleep.
“Psychiatrists from across the city are seeing a new trend of sleep disorder amongst children, adolescents and youth, in which the individual sleeps late at night and wakes up late in the morning, leading to Phase Delayed Sleep Disorder,” said Dr Sunil Mittal, Director of CIMBS.
Changing lifestyle and peer pressure besides nuclear family are some of the major causes for sleep disorders.
The same study, which has come on the eve of World Sleep Day, also found that students with sleep disturbances were also at higher risk for depression, anxiety, emotional and behavioural disturbances, deteriorating academic performances, internet addiction, gaming addiction, excessive gadgets use, inter-personal relationship problems as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
What is more disturbing is that the same trend is being witnessed globally.
“Studies worldwide have shown that one third (35%) of people feel that they do not get enough sleep, impacting both their physical and mental health. Insomnia alone affects 8-10 per cent of the general population.
“It may lead to increased risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, headache, immune deficiency, anxiety, depression, memory problems, road traffic accidents and decreased work performance,” said Shobhana Mittal, attending consultant psychiatrist at CIMBS.
Dr Rajesh Kumar, member of World Association of Sleep Medicine said, “Sleep is especially essential for physical as well as emotional growth in this age group. Proper consultation from a psychiatrist and intervention with behavioural modification, psychotherapy as well as medications when required can help restore their wellbeing and bright future,” he said.