Image: Colourbox
In Austria, one in three people thought about suicide at some point during the health crisis “only” every fourth. At that time, however, the frequency of nightmares rose globally by 4.5 percentage points.
- Also read: Ten percent more suicides after the pandemic [OÖNplus]
With World Sleep Day, the World Sleep Society wants to remember that a… “fair night’s sleep” is important for health. Holzinger works at the Medical University of Vienna and the Institute for Consciousness and Dream Research in Vienna. She and her colleagues surveyed 9,300 women and men worldwide about suicidal thoughts and nightmares. The study was led by Courtney Bolstad from Mississippi State University (USA) and im “Journal of Sleep Research” published.
Suicidal thoughts are comparatively common among Austrians
According to her, two percent fewer people were struck by suicidal thoughts during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Maybe you get distracted by the crisis, think about other things than your own misery and realize that you are not alone”, explained Holzinger. Austria saw the largest reduction in suicidal thoughts worldwide during the pandemic, namely by almost ten percentage points.
The “Austrian soul” In an international comparison, people often have suicidal thoughts: 34 percent of those surveyed before the pandemic and 24 percent during it. Only in Brazil with 34 percent and 30 percent are there more. Such fantasies were admitted least frequently in China (4 percent and 3 percent, respectively).
Suicidal thoughts were more common among those affected by Long Covid than among those who were acutely ill. “Then you may be preoccupied with survival and challenged, and any despair seems to fade into the background”says Holzinger: “With Long-Covid, however, the situation continues and underlying desperation emerges again.” Long-Covid also leads to more frequent sleep disorders, which are a risk factor for suicidality (at risk of suicide). “In addition, you are tired, less motivated and feel less recovered”says the psychologist: “All of this promotes depressive thoughts.”
More nightmares during pandemic
Frequent nightmares also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. They increased by four and a half percent worldwide during the pandemic. However, other factors apparently reduced the occurrence of self-destructive fantasies more than they increased bad dreams.
A tried and tested remedy for suicidal thoughts and nightmarish thoughts is to take a long slumber. “If we don’t get enough sleep, we can’t dream much”says Holzinger: “Dreams regulate the emotional world and help to restore oneself emotionally.” A deficiency leads to a higher frequency of nightmares and suicidal fantasies. “Dreaming is like a little psychotherapy”says the psychologist: “In any case, this allows us to deal better with our environment and everyday challenges and to better absorb events.”
“Sleep, along with eating, drinking and physical activity, is one of the basic human needs”the World Sleep Society also explains: “In addition to the recovery function, sleep serves cleansing processes in the brain and the rebuilding of energy stores.” It is also important for good memory and effective learning, strengthens the immune system and promotes brain health by removing waste from the thinking center.
Lack of sleep: far-reaching health consequences
Poor sleep is in turn linked to obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality, wrote Anna Heidbreder from the University Clinic for Neurology in Linz in a press release. Drowsy drivers are also a risk on the road, and people with sleep disorders are at higher risk of mental illness. “However, in times of our 24/7 society with the attributes of absolute availability and the need for permanent functioning, sleep is gradually being reduced”said the doctor.
The aim of World Sleep Day is to highlight the indispensability of an undisturbed night’s sleep and to further explore the functions of sleep through research. For this purpose, for example, the Linz University Hospital is looking for subjects willing to sleep.
On Monday (March 18th) there will also be a panel discussion at the University of Linz under the title “Why sleep is political”. According to the World Sleep Society, you have to “Every person has access to adequate sleep, regardless of location, socioeconomic status, environmental conditions, social structures, interpersonal relationships or individual beliefs”.
- Are you in a desperate situation and need help? Talk to other people about it. The Ministry of Health’s suicide prevention portal offers help for people with suicidal thoughts and their relatives.
- Contact details for aid organizations in Austria can be found at www.suizid-praevention.gv.at.
- Information for young people is available at www.bittelebe.at
My themes
For your saved topics were
new articles found.
info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.
info
Click on the icon to open yours “my themes” Page. They have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.
info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.
Add the topic to your topics.
Source: Nachrichten
