How Movember is Helping Dads Improve their Mental Health by Sleeping Better
Sleep recharges our batteries both mentally and physically.
Getting enough sleep is vital for maintaining both our mental and physical health.
According to the World Sleep Society – the organisation that hosts World Sleep Day on March 18th – people who routinely sleep well have lower rates of high blood pressure and even chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression can be underpinned, or made worse, if we’re not sleeping well.
Lots of factors – from our lifestyle to the amount of stress we’re under at any given time – can influence how well we sleep.
Becoming a dad is one of those times.
" The findings showed that when children are poor sleepers, it also results in poorer health and wellbeing among dads. "
“The early stage of parenthood is a period when we expect our sleep to suffer but many parents are shocked when it continues beyond the newborn stage into the toddler years and beyond,” says Suf Patel, Director of Fathers & Relationships, at Movember.
New research shows that lack of sleep has an impact on fathers’ general health and wellbeing. A systematic review, published in February 2022, looked at research into the effects of children’s sleep (up to the age of 12) on father’s health and wellbeing.
The findings showed that when children are poor sleepers, it also results in poorer health and wellbeing among dads.
Poor sleep also has a negative impact on the relationship between the parent and child and the parents’ relationship.
Suf says: “Although being a parent can be a very rewarding, it isn’t always easy. When your child doesn’t sleep well, it can cause friction at home and over time that can impact the whole family’s mental wellbeing.”
Movember’s Family Man, is a free online parenting programme designed to equip parents of children, aged between two and eight, with the practical skills to manage challenging child behaviour and increase their parenting confidence.
The online resource – which is the first in the world designed with dads in mind – is packed with practical tips and advice on how to establish bedtime routines and deal with common sleeping problems such as frequent waking or nightmares.
Suf says: “Sleep can be a sore point for many parents. But by sticking to a regular bedtime routine and following our experts’ advice, you can restore family harmony and everyone in your house will be sleeping like a baby in no time.”