World Sleep Day – Friday, March 17, 2023

Sleep Is Essential for Health: Celebrate World Sleep Day This Friday

World Sleep Day on Friday, March 17 will capture the attention of millions and focus it on healthy sleep. Hundreds of activity organizers and World Sleep Society members are acting in over 50 countries this week to raise awareness of healthy sleep, sleep disorders and the important fact that sleep is essential for health.

A Call to Action: Celebrate Healthy Sleep

• Share #WorldSleepDay content online
• Interview a credible sleep expert for your World Sleep Day content
• Write, create or otherwise connect with your public audience about healthy sleep

Sleep Is Essential for Health

Just like eating well and exercising, sleep is a behavior that is foundational to one’s physical, mental and social well-being. “Just because sleep is a natural behavior does not mean that sleep should be taken for granted,” says Fang Han, MD, co-chair of World Sleep Day 2023. Co-chair Lourdes DelRosso, MD, PhD adds that “People should think about sleep like they do other important healthy behaviors such as exercise – as something to reflect upon and, when appropriate, improve so that one can feel better and remain healthier over time.”

The Burdens of Unhealthy Sleep and Their Disparities

Unhealthy sleep has been linked to many harms to human health – including cardiometabolic disease, infectious diseases, brain and neurological diseases, traffic and occupational safety, and mental disorders – and these harms fall disproportionately on the marginalized and vulnerable worldwide.

World Sleep Society empowers its members to better understand, raise awareness of, and encourage action regarding global sleep health. “There is a critical need for sustained, focused collaboration among international experts, advocates, and policy decision-makers to advance global sleep health. Through World Sleep Day and other initiatives, the World Sleep Society provides resources and networking opportunities for this important work,” says Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, president of World Sleep Society.