Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of sleep deprivation on mental health and national productivity, and what steps they are taking to address that issue and to promote sleep health.

While no such specific assessment has been made, we recognise the potential impact of sleep deprivation on mental health.

NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offer low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies.

Individuals can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the NHS Every Mind Matters website.

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Prioritisation Board has recently agreed to prioritise digital technologies that deliver cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for insomnia and insomnia symptoms as a topic for the development of HealthTech guidance.

Advice for healthcare professionals is also available from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on its website.