How sleep affects mental health - Prof Matt Jones

The Brave Front

The quality of our sleep is central to our mental wellbeing, but the relationship between the two is complex. Professor of Neuroscience at Bristol University, Matt Jones, spends his days analysing other people’s nights, so we spoke to him to find out more about the science behind sleep and its impact on mental health. From grumpy mornings and insomnia, to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and PTSD, the amount we sleep could impact our every waking moment. Finding the answer to a perfect night’s sleep, meanwhile, could be as simple, as a siesta in a hammock. Make yourself a cocoa and settle down for a dreamlike Episode 4. Show outline: 00:00:07 - 00:02:18 - Welcome to the episode 00:04:56 - 00:11:15 - Why do we need a good night’s sleep? 00:11:27 - 00:21:44 - Sleep and mental health 00:21:51 - 00:28:41 - Talking and other possible ways to improve sleep 00:28:42 - 00:31:14 - The power nap 00:31:08 - 00:38:34 - Sleep hygiene, exercise and racing thoughts 00:38:35 - 00:45:00 - Sleep changes with age and future studies Useful links: Professor Matt Jones - University of Bristol profile: Professor Matt Jones - Our People (bristol.ac.uk) The science of Sleep with Matt Jones - YouTube: https://youtu.be/J9cVSnCVzbk?si=rQ3FzJNSsGl0Du27 Why can’t I sleep? The benefits of good sleep hygiene | Wellcome Share the show: If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links: Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Interact with the show: Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page Get in touch Send us a voice message Full Transcript: Click here: https://midlifeonearth.com/2023/10/23/the-brave-front-episode-4-how-sleep-affects-mental-health/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message