Sleep in Canada

• Physical Health Impact:
  Chronic high sleep stress can lead to weakened immune function, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, weight gain, and diabetes.

• Mental Health Impact:
  It often causes anxiety, depression, impaired cognitive functions like memory and concentration, and increased irritability.

• Workplace Consequences:
  Reduced productivity, higher absenteeism, and greater risk of accidents or errors.

• Personal Life Effects:
  Strained relationships due to irritability, reduced social interaction, and decreased ability to manage daily stressors.

Workplace Support Tip:
Consider group sessions and digital assessments from platforms like October to help employees manage sleep stress and improve overall mental well-being.

Effect of High Sleep Stress on an Economy

• Reduced Productivity: Workers experiencing high sleep stress tend to have lower concentration, slower cognitive function, and decreased efficiency, directly impacting overall workplace productivity.
• Increased Absenteeism and Presenteeism: Sleep-stressed employees may take more sick days (absenteeism) or attend work while unwell but perform poorly (presenteeism), both leading to economic losses.
• Higher Healthcare Costs: Chronic sleep stress contributes to physical and mental health issues (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, depression), increasing healthcare spending by employers and governments.
• Workplace Accidents: Fatigue linked to sleep stress increases the risk of accidents and errors, especially in safety-critical industries, causing costly disruptions and liabilities.
• Talent Turnover: Poor sleep health can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction, increasing employee turnover and costs related to hiring and training.

Workplace Mental Health Support Suggestion:

Implementing programs like October’s digital group sessions can help educate employees on managing sleep stress and improving sleep hygiene, mitigating its economic impact. Regular assessments can identify high-risk employees and provide early interventions.

 Strategies for a Country to Lower Sleep Stress

1. **Public Education Campaigns**  
   Promote awareness about good sleep hygiene, importance of sleep, and techniques for managing sleep stress through media and public programs.

2. **Workplace Policies**  
   Encourage employers to adopt flexible work hours, limit overtime, and promote regular breaks to reduce stress and improve employees' sleep quality.

3. **Mental Health Support Access**  
   Expand access to mental health services, including stress management and therapy for anxiety or insomnia, potentially via digital platforms like October for group sessions and assessments.

4. **Urban Planning and Noise Reduction**  
   Implement policies to reduce noise pollution and improve living conditions which affect sleep quality.

5. **Regulation of Screen Time**  
   Promote guidelines for screen use, especially before bedtime, as excessive screen exposure increases sleep stress.

6. **Encourage Physical Activity**  
   Promote physical activity programs as exercise can improve sleep quality and reduce stress.

7. **Healthy Work-Life Balance Initiatives**  
   National support for work-life balance through legislation and cultural shifts to ensure people have time to unwind and sleep well.

Using platforms like **Panda** can help employers provide group sessions on sleep stress management and assessments, enhancing employee support systems.

• Promote regular work hours and discourage after-hours emails to support consistent sleep schedules
• Encourage breaks and short naps if possible during long shifts
• Provide education about good sleep hygiene (e.g., limiting screen time before bed, creating relaxing routines)
• Offer access to mental health resources like October’s digital group sessions on stress and sleep management
• Create a work environment that minimizes excessive noise and bright lights during early or late hours
• Consider flexible scheduling to accommodate individual sleep patterns and needs