‘Sleep: the hidden wonder drug’

We all sleep, and just like eating healthily and getting enough exercise, sleep is very important for a healthy lifestyle. If you get enough sleep, you feel fit, can learn better, and remain physically and mentally healthy. Do you consistently get too little sleep? You notice this in the short term because you are tired and unable to concentrate, but your mental health, physical condition and immune system also suffer. In the long term, it can have very serious consequences; think of a much greater risk of obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Consistently sleeping poorly is especially risky during the important developmental stage of adolescence. Even more worrying is that research shows that many teenagers, and particularly VMBO students, do not sleep well. For example, 65% of young people report poor sleep quality, and 43% sleep less than 8 to 10 hours per night. This affects not only their mood, but also their academic performance, risk-taking behaviour, and physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation is therefore a silent danger that is often underestimated!

The ‘Charge Your Brainzzz’ educational programme by the Brain Foundation and GLOS Educatief therefore aims to improve the sleep health of young people in secondary education. The programme provides young people with knowledge and a positive attitude regarding healthy sleep, but to truly influence their behaviour, it needs to be improved. Consider, for example, the use of social media before going to bed. That is why Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, four major municipal public health services, the Brain Foundation and GLOS Educatief, in collaboration with many other partners, are developing a new version: ‘Charge Your Brainzzz 2.0’. And for that, we need your help.

Call to action: Help us!

Charge Your Brainzzz would like to continue developing the programme together with young people, parents, and professionals from the academic and practical fields. School is an important part of young people’s daily lives. We want to tailor Charge Your Brainzzz to VMBO students. That is why Charge Your Brainzzz is looking for teachers/mentors of VMBO students (all tracks) aged 13–15 who would like to help consider what influences young people’s sleep behaviour. In this way, together we can devise an effective, practical way to help young people get a good night’s sleep.

What does Charge Your Brainzzz ask of you?

Researchers from VU Amsterdam will organise an online workshop on Wednesday 2 December from 15:00 to 17:00, during which they will conduct various brainstorming activities about the factors that influence young people’s sleep. The following questions will be addressed:

  • What do young people do before they go to sleep?
  • Why do they or their friends sleep well or poorly?
  • What influence do parents and school have?

These are all areas on which you can offer a unique and crucial perspective!

Compensation

Participants will receive a gift voucher worth 25 euros.

Participation and further information

Interested and would you like to contribute your ideas? Or would you like more information or do you have questions? Then please contact the researcher responsible, Danique Heemskerk | Email: [email protected] | telephone: +31 20 59 87620