Join Us in Raising Awareness about the Importance of Sleep Health

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Until the 2026 Sleep Awareness Month steering committee convenes
Sleep is foundational to health and well-being.

Yet, many individuals lack the knowledge, habits,
and medical support needed for restorative sleep.
Let’s change that—together.

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Learn more below about our goals and target audiences.


As Seen On

Clnet
wbur
Today
Forbes

We have a Worldwide and National Sleep Crisis

33–50% of adults worldwide experience some form of insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or achieving restorative sleep. This is a silent epidemic that affects physical and mental health.

In the United States, insufficient sleep is unevenly distributed across counties. In 2009, researchers identified “hotspots” of sleep deprivation across the country using spatial analysis. See the map to the right.

Average Sleep Graphic
% of adults with fewer than 7 hours on sleep on average
  • 25.6-32.6
  • 32.6-35.6
  • 35.6-38.3
  • 38.3-41.4
  • 41.4-49.1

Source: Geographic distribution of insufficient sleep across the United States: a county-level hotspot analysis☆

Would you like to contribute or visualize sleep data?
Let us know!

…chew some valerian root and get some exercise…

Much has changed since the 1999 movie Fight Club, where a doctor advises Jack, the protagonist, to “chew some valerian root and get some exercise.”

While exercise does aid sleep, the scene underscores the limited options the medical field once offered for sleep struggles. (Valerian root, though mentioned casually, has mixed reviews but shows some efficacy.)

We have effective evidence-based treatments but these are not widely distributed and behavioral health changes are often poorly communicated

A lot has changed in medical and health culture but we have a long way to go.

8 in 10 adults want to improve their sleep but 60% have not sought help from a medical professional.

Have resources for medical or public health professionals?
Join a Sleep Hub working group
Submit Content

The month will be packed with events:
for the general public, media, researchers, the medical community.

Featured Events:

March 2025

Each week has a theme and look out for free CE/CME coming soon.

To see event details, click on the date dot and scroll to under the calendar.

This Month

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The importance of sleep

It is important we all make the case for sleep, as there are billions of ad dollars making the case against it. Here are some almost universal talking points about ways in which sleep is important. Naturally, these points might be communicated differently to a seven year old vs a 70 year old.

    Cognitive function

    Cognitive function

    Sleep impairs reaction times and other cognitive functions. For example, drowsy driving causes over 100,000 crashes in the US per year and hundreds of fatalities.

    Sleep aids in learning and memory, and repairs connections—essential for mental clarity and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

    Mental Health

    Mental Health

    Those who get quality sleep report lower stress levels.

    They are also less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression (CDC, 2021) and the correlation between suicidality and poor sleep is very strong.

    Heart and Cardiovascular
    Health

    Heart and Cardiovascular Health

    Poor sleep can increase the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease by 48% (AHA, 2022).1

    Weight Management

    Weight Management

    Sleep helps regulate hormones that control appetite and a study from the National Institutes of Health found that insufficient sleep is linked to a 55% higher risk of developing obesity among adults.(NIH, 2010)

    Goals for Sleep Awareness Month

    Promote Healthy Sleep Habits
    • Educate individuals on practical steps they can take to improve their sleep quality.
    • Encourage the adoption of healthy sleep routines across different age groups and lifestyles.
    Increase Public Awareness of the importance of sleep
    • Raise awareness about the importance of sleep and its impact on physical, mental, and emotional health.
    • Disseminate accurate and accessible information on sleep hygiene and the dangers of sleep deprivation.
    • Overcome harmful attitudes like “sleep when we’re dead” that glorify sleep deprivation.
    • Using media campaigns to normalize good sleep habits and highlight the importance of rest.

    This Sleep Disorders media guide from Project Sleep is one of the best we have seen,
    Nominate an existing campaign for our Sleep Hub.

    Raise Awareness of Sleep Disorders and Hazards
    • Highlight common sleep disorders, their symptoms, and the importance of seeking professional help.
    • Promote screenings and interventions for sleep disorders in healthcare settings.
    • Cross promote Safe Sleep Awareness Month
    Support Sleep Innovation and Education
    • Provide educational resources and curricula for schools, workplaces, and community organizations.
    • Collaborate with sleep researchers and experts to ensure the accuracy and relevance of educational materials.
    • Encourage healthcare providers to prioritize sleep health as part of routine care.
    • Disseminate high quality information and tools to the public.
    • Support research and innovation in health.
    • Arm doctors and other medical staff with the best diagnostic tools and behavioral health education to most effectively improve sleep.
    Advocate for Sleep-Friendly Policies
    • Work with policymakers to advocate for regulations and practices that support better sleep health (e.g., flexible work hours, school start times).
    • Support initiatives that provide access to sleep health resources and treatment

    Who is Sleep Awareness
    Month for?

    Anyone passionate about health can help us.

    We will have events and resources for many groups.

    General Population

    Elderly Population

    • Seniors
    • Senior Center Staff

    Individuals with Sleep Disorders

    • Insomnia Sufferers
    • Sleep Apnea Patients
    • Narcolepsy Patients

    Adolescents and Teenagers
    People with Chronic Illnesses
    Shift Workers

    • Factory Workers
    • Hospital Staff
    • Security Personnel
    • Emergency Services (Paramedics, Firefighters)

    Transportation Workers

    • Truck Drivers
    • Pilots and Flight Attendants
    • Public Transit Operators

    Technology and IT Professionals

    • Software Developers
    • IT Support Staff

    Workaholics and High-Stress Professionals
    Travel Industry Professionals

    • Travel Agents
    • Tour Guides

    Healthcare Professionals

    • Nurses
    • Doctors
    • Sleep Specialists
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • School Health Workers
    • Occupational Therapists

    Substance Abuse Counselors and Clients

    Community Health Workers

    Public Health Officials and Policymakers

    Non-Profit Organizations Focused on Health

    Wellness and Fitness Professionals

    • Personal Trainers
    • Yoga Instructors
    • Nutritionists and Dietitians

    Educational Community

    • Teachers and Educators
    • School Administrators
    • Students (Elementary to College)

    Media and Creative Professionals

    • Journalists
    • Content Creators
    • Artists and Designers

    Parents and Caregivers

    • New Parents
    • Caregivers for the Elderly
    • Childcare Providers

    Corporate Sector

    • Employers and HR Professionals
    • Corporate Wellness Coordinators
    • Business Executives

    Military and Law Enforcement

    • Military Personnel
    • Police Officers

    Hospitality and Service Industry

    • Hotel Staff
    • Restaurant Workers
    • Retail Employees

    Athletes and Coaches

    • Professional Athletes
    • Sports Coaches
    • Physical Therapists

    Religious and Community Leaders

    • Clergy (Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Imams, etc.)

    Faith-Based Health Ministry Leaders

    • Community Organizers and Activists

    • Nonprofit Directors (Faith-Based and Secular)

    • Local Government Leaders (e.g., Mayors, Council Members)

    Researchers in Sleep and Health

    • Sleep Medicine Specialists

    • Neuroscientists

    • Behavioral Health Researchers

    • Public Health Researchers

    • Cardiologists and Heart Health Researchers

    • Endocrinologists

    • Occupational Health Researchers

    • Pediatric Sleep Researchers

    • Geriatric Sleep Researchers

    • Sports and Performance Scientists

    • Technology and Innovation Researchers

    • Nutrition and Diet Researchers

    • Psychopharmacologists

    • Environmental Health Researchers

    • Epigenetic Researchers

    Sign up for Major Updates

    Sleep Awareness Month is promoted and hosted by

    Our Host

    We are a nonprofit organization with a mission to foster a cultural shift in public health.

    We promote open sharing of health campaigns, digital health tools, research, data, and other resources.

    We nudge mission-based organizations to be more open with their content, give away some of their content for free and:

    • Lift copyright with creative commons licenses
    • Remove pay and registration walls
    • Allow access to search engines and artificial intelligent systems
    • Tag and categorize content with modern best practices for retrieval and access

    These steps will help to broaden dissemination of high quality evidence-based content to overcome misinformation and biased information.

    We are recruiting steering committee members for Sleep Awareness Month.

    Contact us if you want to join leaders who will shape our culture around sleep and wellbeing.

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    Better Sleep Will Become a Global Priority

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    and be featured on our calendar

    Organizations Must

    • Show a commitment to present evidence-based practices
    • Disclosures of relevant potential conflict of interest to subject presented
      (see ACCME guidelines, as a parallel)

    Our Offer:

    • Your event publicised across 100’s of media outlets, and organizations that are involved with Sleep Awareness Month
    • Event ideation support
    • Connection to other organizations and experts to enhance your event
    • Our network to publicize the event & to promote content from the event
    • Press release, Graphic Design Support and limited PR Support to help your organization promote yourselves and the event
    • Your content showcased in our SleepHealth Hub
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