Why sleep is important for mental health

Everyone is familiar with how good you feel after a great night’s sleep.

You stretch and get out of bed, full of strength and energy ready to start another full and rewarding day. The physical benefits are immediately obvious! But what about your mental and emotional state? 

Many people don’t realise how getting enough quality sleep can be just as important for your mental health and wellbeing as it is for your body.¹ In a study done by Resmed in 2025 on sleep, it was found that 89% of people agree that getting enough sleep makes them feel better about themselves. Of those currently employed full time, part time, or as a freelancer/contractor, 71% confess they have called in sick to work due to being too tired after a bad night's sleep.

Research has shown that there is a link between sleep and mental health,² which is why quality sleep is considered a significant contributor to maintaining good mental wellness, emotional stability and brain functionality.

What is mental health?

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.³ 

While the term is often associated with discussions about mental illnesses, mental health is actually about the general state of our emotions and mental functions. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”⁴

As a high functioning person, the goal is to strive to look after your mental health so you can continue to enjoy every day with your family, friends and colleagues.

In a day-to-day context, your mental health affects how you think, feel, and act, and can determine how you handle stress, interact with others and make decisions. Maintaining good mental health is equally as important at every stage of your life, from childhood and adolescence, all the way through adulthood.

What are the benefits of good mental health?

If you recall the WHO definition above, these are all pretty compelling reasons why good mental health is so important. 

Not only can good mental health make you feel more positive, alert and content with life, high levels of mental health are also associated with improved levels of creativity, productivity and an increased capacity to learn.⁵

You may also have a better sense of self-esteem and be more outgoing in social situations.⁶

After all, when you feel great, you may tend to be more confident about all aspects of your life.