University of Warwick reveals new sleep therapy to improve worker mental health

The University of Warwick has pioneered a new sleep therapy which promises to improve mental health among UK workers. The therapy takes place online and is a hybrid approach to treat insomnia and emotional regulation which aims to improve sleep quality and mental health.

Poor sleep has a massive knock-on effect on the economy. 74% of UK workers report bad sleep quality, and sleep deprivation often results in a drop in employee productivity, which is estimated to cost £37 billion to employers annually. Sleep deprivation is also linked to conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression, which account for nearly half of work-related ill health, resulting in 16.4 million working days lost annually. A staggering 91% of UK adults report high or extreme levels of stress, with younger workers particularly vulnerable due to delayed healthcare access. Simply put, high stress is linked to low productivity and therefore work-product loss.

Insomnia affects approximately 10% of the general population and also contributes to poor mental health

Employers who adopt proactive approaches to mental health support, as part of their management strategy, often see higher productivity levels. By investing in mental health initiatives, employers can mitigate the costs associated with absenteeism, burnout, and reduced productivity.

Insomnia affects approximately 10% of the general population and also contributes to poor mental health. Dr Talar Moukhtarian, a professor at the University of Warwick who focuses on mental health, believes that the new sleep therapy developed in her recent research is groundbreaking.  The sleep research promises to be a means of early mental health intervention, as well as a way of treating more people more easily.

The therapy is a mix of a self-guided digital content which is then mixed with online therapist-led sessions. It is designed to be as accessible as possible and scalable. The researchers hope that by making therapy this easily available, it will reduce the stigma associated with seeking support in the workplace which often discourages people from asking for help.

If sleep therapy can reduce the risk of these conditions, then the long-term burdens on healthcare services could be alleviated, and workplaces may then benefit from this enhanced emotional resilience

An eight-week clinical trial programme has revealed significant improvements in both sleep quality and overall mental health. Levels of emotional resilience, anxiety, and depression all showed signs of improvement, even in participants with milder symptoms. The testimonials from participants highlight just how much the improved sleep patterns have enhanced their lives. One participant said: “It’s made really important improvements to my sleep patterns and my quality of life and wellbeing in general, so I really have highly positive views on the experience.”

Early intervention is clearly very important. Dr Talar Moukhatarian warns that “poor sleep is often an early warning sign of declining mental health.” Intervening early and identifying these initial warning signs prevents these conditions from escalating into major health issues like severe depression and anxiety, infection due to a weakened immune system, and heart disease. If sleep therapy can reduce the risk of these conditions, then the long-term burdens on healthcare services could be alleviated, and workplaces may then benefit from this enhanced emotional resilience.

As workplace mental health becomes an increasingly urgent priority, Warwick’s research provides the possibility for an accessible and easily implemented solution. By targeting insomnia and emotional resilience, this therapy not only improves sleep quality but mental wellbeing which may, as a result, increase the productivity of workers across the country. As we move forward, embracing such innovative therapies is likely to be crucial in transforming health in the workplace.