Following the success of the recent Secrets to Better Sleep and Wellbeing workshop, a recording of the session is now available for those who couldn’t attend live.
Led by world-renowned sleep expert Professor Colin Espie from the University of Oxford, who is also an honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist with NHS Lanarkshire, the workshop provided staff with practical insights into the science of sleep, tips for improving sleep quality, and resources for addressing sleep challenges.
Key takeaways from the workshop include:
- The Essential Role of Sleep: Sleep is vital to physical and mental health, as critical as food and water. It supports brain health, emotional regulation, and immune function.
- Understanding Individual Sleep Needs: While the average adult requires around 8 hours of sleep, individual needs vary. Identifying your personal sleep requirement and aligning it with your lifestyle is crucial.
- Principles of Good Sleep Health: Valuing, personalising, and protecting your sleep, among others, are fundamental to maintaining healthy sleep habits.
- Practical Tools for Better Sleep: Professor Espie provided actionable advice, such as creating a bedtime routine, reducing screen time before bed, and avoiding the trap of trying too hard to fall asleep.
The session also introduced digital tools like Sleepio, an evidence-based programme accessible through the NHS Lanarkshire Mind Matters website. This resource offers cognitive behavioural therapy for sleep difficulties and has shown excellent results in improving insomnia symptoms among users.
Dr Su Ross, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychological Specialties, reflected on the event: “I’m delighted that so many staff were able to attend the live event, and many have been in touch to request the link to watch back later. There were lots of questions asked in the Q&A that we didn’t have time to discuss, so we’re already planning how to follow up with future events and resources. Sleep is such an important part of our daily lives and has such a profound effect on our wellbeing. Colin’s talk seems to have really resonated with us all.”
Professor Patricia Graham, Director of Psychological Services, added: “This workshop provided a fantastic opportunity to explore practical steps for improving sleep and its impact on health. The points about putting each day to rest, and keeping our sleep pattern as tight as we can, were especially helpful to hear. It’s clear that addressing sleep difficulties can significantly enhance wellbeing, and the level of engagement from staff has been truly encouraging. I’d highly recommend taking the time to watch the recording and explore the resources shared.”
For more tools and support, visit the Lanarkshire Mind Matters website, where you can also access Sleepio and other resources designed to help with sleep and mental health.
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