Experts to explore ‘vital’ role of sleep for wellbeing

‘Essential for good health and wellbeing across the lifespan.’
 
That’s how Dr Alexandra Metse views the role of sleep, which will be explored in an RACGP-supported webinar held on World Sleep Health Day (12 March).
 
Dr Metse, a clinical psychologist and academic from the University of the Sunshine Coast, will be one of the speakers at the hour-long ‘Sleep health advances in primary care’ webinar.  
 
Having contributed to public health initiatives such as the Mitchell Institute and Sleep Health Foundation’s (SHF) policy brief on improving population sleep health, Dr Metse is passionate about the role sleep can play in wellbeing and preventing chronic disease.
 
In recent years, research into sleep has grown globally, as interest in understanding the importance of sleep for physical and mental health increases.
 
‘It’s much newer than a lot of the research that’s been undertaken around smoking and physical activity, for example,’ Dr Metse told newsGP.
 
‘There is often a bit of a lag between when we first get insights into new important things for health, and when that’s translated into clinical practice.
 
‘It’s an exciting time for the sleep space, because that translation is really starting to happen now.’
 
For Dr Metse, it is about much more than the after-effects of a bad night’s sleep.  
‘Research is certainly showing it’s not just the immediate impacts that we need to worry about,’ she said.
 
‘Long-term, more chronic sleep issues have significant impacts on our health and our functioning.
 
‘I think about it as vital, not only for preventing chronic disease, but also for health and wellbeing. Good sleep isn’t just the absence of a sleep disorder.
 
‘I am really hoping that this webinar and campaign around sleep and preventive health will highlight that.’
 
With sleep issues a common reason for general practice presentation, the webinar will delve into the relationship between sleep health and mental and physical health conditions.
 
It will also include pragmatic advice for primary care clinicians to discuss sleep health, as well as general practice case studies, pointers to evidence-based information, resources, and options for further assessment.
 
‘I hope it will support GPs in building their understanding of the role of sleep for health and that sleep is on their agenda,’ Dr Metse said.
 
As well as Dr Metse, speakers include:

• Dr Bianca Cannon, a GP and lecturer with an interest in preventive health, including sleep medicine
• Dr Alexander Sweetman, the Senior Program Manager at the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA), who leads a primary care sleep education and implementation program
• Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Moira Junge, a registered health psychologist and Chief Executive of the SHF.

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