Do our consumption habits, especially the use of electronic devices, affect our sleep quality?
The light from these devices actually has no effect, even if the opposite is often claimed. Even using them just before bed does not matter much. The decisive factor is not the device, but what we do with it and how we interpret the content we consume. If I watch a horror film and it relaxes me, I will sleep wonderfully afterwards. But if I read about some unsettling political controversy on my mobile phone just before I go to bed, I won’t sleep well. Of course our consumption habits influence our sleep, but it is the psychological aspects, that is to say the content’s effect on us, that matters, not the devices.

Does digitalisation have an impact on our sleep quality?
In Switzerland, a health survey that includes a question on sleep has been conducted every five years for the past 25 years. Around a third of respondents state that they suffer from sleep disorders. That’s a lot, but it hasn’t changed significantly over time. Only in the last five years has a worrying increase been observed in adolescents and young adults. One thing that digitalisation is changing is our attention spans. We constantly switch between different content. During breaks we use digital media, rather than sitting down and talking, as people did in the past. This phenomenon influences our sleep, because falling asleep means letting go, switching off, becoming “unconscious”.

What consequences do sleep deprivation and poor-quality sleep have for our mental health?
The effects are significant and continue to be underestimated – even by experts. The data clearly shows that poor sleep can increase the risk of depression and anxiety disorders. Not only is sleep connected to depression, anxiety and trauma; it also affects many physical illnesses.

Is good sleep a prerequisite for a good life?
There is plenty of data to prove that poor sleep can predict illnesses which occur many years later, such as Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. The risk of burnout is also increased if you sleep poorly for an extended period of time. The same applies to diabetes, stroke, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Even the cardiological society – which is a conservative rather than a progressive society – has now named sleep as a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Poor-quality, insufficient sleep also increases the risk of obesity because it alters the way our hormones are regulated, making us feel hungry and want to eat more sugar.

Where can people with sleep problems get help?
The first point of contact is definitely your family doctor. However, they prescribe sleeping pills far too often. In defence of family doctors, however, it must be said that they do so for lack of alternatives. There aren’t enough facilities to which patients with sleep disorders can be referred. Out of 100 people diagnosed with insomnia, only one receives psychotherapy for the condition.

While mental health problems are often taboo, sleep deprivation is almost de rigueur in many social circles. What do you say to someone who boasts that they get by on only four hours of sleep?
There actually are people who can get by on very little sleep. Sleep habits vary considerably from person to person. It may be that someone can manage on only four hours. The problem, however, is that many people are under the impression that they only need four hours of sleep, when in reality they need much more. Sleep deprivation leads to concentration problems and increases the likelihood of getting sick or developing burnout.

The incidence of mental health problems has been increasing for years. Why are more and more people seeking psychiatric treatment?
Getting psychological help is more accepted today than it was 30 years ago. Awareness of the issue has increased, which is why people are making greater use of the services available. What’s more, we live in a world of great uncertainty, in which many things are no longer as they once were. This is leading to an increase in existential problems. For a long time, the younger generation had the feeling that they would one day be better off than their parents. This is changing. There is widespread fear that life will be more difficult for future generations. This causes anxiety and puts people under pressure.

Can you give companies any advice on how to overcome challenges related to the issue of mental health?
A good first step would be to introduce simple sleep screening tests. Addressing the issue of sleep and taking it seriously would be a second step. If someone is found to have sleep problems, this should be investigated and individual solutions worked out. Adapted working hours can help some people to get better sleep. The importance of sleep should be recognised in the workplace. If a person is tired, they should be allowed to have a lie down. There are already some companies, especially those with demanding shift work, that consider sleep management to be part of safety management. When employees are less sleepy, they make fewer mistakes. They also become more efficient.

So a good night’s sleep is in the company’s interest?
Absolutely. If employers want to have productive and high-performing employees who can concentrate and stay healthy, then they MUST address the issue of sleep. Placing a coffee machine in the break room is definitely not enough.

Do you see a need for action on the part of insurers?
There is a proven correlation between decision-making behaviour and sleep quality. People who get insufficient or poor-quality sleep make riskier decisions. As a result, they are more likely to take excessive risks. Against this backdrop, insurers should have every interest in paying more attention to the issue of sleep.