(With the inputs from AP)
In a move to address rising concerns over adolescent mental health, several US schools are now offering dedicated sleep education as part of their curriculum. Among them is a high school in Ohio, where students are being taught how to sleep better — a life skill often overlooked but increasingly essential.
The programme, delivered as part of a mandatory health course, helps students understand the science behind sleep and its role in emotional regulation, academic performance, and overall wellbeing.
Understanding the Sleep Crisis
Most teenagers today average only six hours of sleep per night, despite needing between eight and ten. The mismatch stems from biological changes during puberty, compounded by academic pressure, screen time, and packed schedules.
Experts link chronic sleep loss to issues such as anxiety, depression, and even accidents, noting that poor sleep may play a larger role in teen mental health than social media usage alone.
Inside the Sleep Curriculum
The course consists of six modules, focusing on sleep logging, routine building, and digital discipline. Students track how their sleep affects daily mood and performance, and are encouraged to reduce screen exposure before bed, eat lighter dinners, and adopt calming bedtime rituals.
Results are already showing promise. Students who implement these changes report better focus, mood, and overall productivity.
More Than Just Phones
While phones are a major contributor to sleep issues — with many students falling asleep while scrolling and relying on phones as alarm clocks — they are not the only factor. Heavy academic loads, sports commitments, and extracurriculars leave little time for rest.
The course aims to help students manage these pressures with informed choices, rather than simply shifting blame to technology.
A Nationwide Shift
This Ohio high school is part of a growing trend in the US. Schools in states such as Minnesota, New York, and California have introduced sleep education as part of broader wellness efforts. Some states have even legislated later school start times.
Sleep, once ignored in academic settings, is slowly gaining recognition as an essential pillar of teen wellbeing — and schools are beginning to act.
