Sleep disturbances are linked to an increased risk of suicidal behavior in adolescence

A study from DRISP shows that sleep disturbances in childhood – such as getting too little sleep, going to bed late on school nights, and having trouble falling asleep – are clearly associated with a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts later in life.

“Our research shows a significant association between sleep disturbances at an early age and an increased risk of developing suicidal thoughts and attempts during the teenage years. This is an important finding that underscores the need to take children’s sleep problems seriously,” says Martin Ekholm Michelsen. He is employed at the Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention (DRISP) and is the lead author of the study.

The study is based on data from Better Health in Generations and includes more than 28,000 children. At age 11, the participants answered a series of questions about their sleep. When they reached the age of 18, they were asked whether they had ever had suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide. Here, 32% reported having suicidal thoughts, and 3% reported having attempted suicide. The risk was significantly higher among children who, at age 11, slept less than eight hours on school nights. The same applied to children who went to bed late – after 10:30 p.m. – compared to those who went to bed before 9:00 p.m. Children who had difficulty falling asleep weekly or daily also had an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts later in life.

One of the study’s key findings is that childhood sleep disturbances are associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts even after accounting for psychological distress. While the risk is lower when mental health factors are considered, the results remain statistically significant. This suggests that sleep problems in themselves may have long-term consequences for children’s and adolescents’ mental health.

The study shows that sleep disturbances in childhood are a risk factor for suicidal behavior later in life. Therefore, there is a need to focus on children’s and adolescents’ sleep as part of efforts to promote mental health and prevent suicide. Early intervention – helping children get enough quality sleep and develop good sleep habits – can be an important element in a broader strategy to protect young people’s well-being and mental health.

“It’s important to understand that while sleep disturbances are not widespread among children and adolescents, they are a signal to intervene early and help children establish healthy sleep habits. Early intervention can help prevent distress that might otherwise develop into other problems, such as suicidality during the teenage years,” says Trine Madsen, PhD, associate professor and senior researcher at the DRISP.