Knowledge Tree
Stanford University School of Medicine
Also known as: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Medicine
Facts (21)
Sources
How sleep affects mental health (and vice versa) - Stanford Medicine med.stanford.edu Aug 11, 2025 14 facts
procedureStanford Medicine researchers suggest consulting a sleep specialist if sleep issues persist for weeks or months, as the problem could be a chronic condition such as sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorder, narcolepsy, or chronic insomnia.
claimStanford Medicine researchers advise avoiding screen time before bed because apps are designed to keep users awake and can displace sleep.
claimA study of nearly 75,000 people in the U.K. led by Jamie Zeitzer, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in sleep medicine at Stanford Medicine, found that going to bed early and waking up early is associated with better mental health outcomes, regardless of an individual's natural chronotype.
procedureTo build up 'sleep hunger' necessary for falling asleep at night, Stanford Medicine researchers advise avoiding long naps during the day.
claimStanford Medicine researchers advise avoiding alcohol before bedtime because it reduces sleep quality and causes frequent sleep interruptions.
procedureStanford Medicine researchers recommend the following sleep hygiene practices to improve mental health: (1) avoid caffeine and stimulants after early afternoon, (2) avoid alcohol before bedtime to prevent reduced sleep quality and interruptions, (3) maintain a comfortable and soothing bedroom environment, (4) maintain a consistent sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same time daily, (5) avoid screen time before bed to prevent sleep displacement, and (6) if unable to sleep, avoid forcing it and instead read until sleepy.
claimIn a large-scale study of sleep behavior, Stanford Medicine scientists found that night owls do not thrive late at night.
procedureStanford Medicine researchers recommend keeping the bedroom a comfortable and soothing environment to support good sleep hygiene.
procedureStanford Medicine researchers recommend avoiding caffeine and other stimulants after early afternoon to improve sleep hygiene.
claimStanford Medicine researchers assert that insufficient overall sleep is more detrimental to health than other sleep-related issues.
claimAndrea Goldstein-Piekarski, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine, asserts that sleep and mood have a bidirectional relationship.
claimStanford Medicine-led research indicates that sleep timing, in addition to sleep quantity, is a significant factor for mental health.
procedureIf unable to sleep, Stanford Medicine researchers suggest avoiding panic and instead engaging in a relaxing activity like reading until feeling sleepy, rather than trying to force sleep.
procedureStanford Medicine researchers recommend maintaining a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends, rather than attempting to catch up on sleep on weekends.
Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to a Plethora of Diseases bergerhenryent.com Jan 26, 2019 4 facts
claimMultiple studies conducted at Stanford Medicine found that sleep disturbances could predict an increased risk of suicide.
claimA study at Stanford Medicine found that for individuals with existing risk factors for suicide like depression and substance use, falling asleep and waking up at widely varying times was a key predictor of increased suicidal symptoms.
measurementIn a Stanford Medicine study of 420 young and middle-aged adults, 20 participants who experienced poor sleep committed suicide.
measurementResearchers at Stanford Medicine found that a chronic lack of sleep is linked to a 1.4 times higher risk of committing suicide.
The Children and Screens Guide for Child Development and Media ... childrenandscreens.org 3 facts
claimVicki Harrison, Program Director at the Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing at Stanford University School of Medicine, defines social contagion as the process where exposure to a behavior by one or more people influences others to engage in the same or similar behavior, noting that emotions and behaviors can spread similarly to biological pathogens.
measurementSuicide is the second leading cause of death for 10–14-year-olds and the third leading cause of death for 15–24-year-olds, according to Vicki Harrison, MSW, Program Director of the Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing at Stanford University School of Medicine.
measurementAlmost a quarter of high school students reported seriously considering suicide in the past year, according to Vicki Harrison, MSW, Program Director of the Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing at Stanford University School of Medicine.