The Mumbai Mirror reports that a survey of college students conducted by Sion Hospital reveals a link between insomnia and suicidal thoughts.
Seventeen per cent of students with a sleeping disorder or clinical insomnia had suicidal tendencies, the study found. Experts said that irregular sleep among the city’s youngsters was a growing problem that had a direct impact on their mental health.
“Every third person in Mumbai is believed to have a sleeping disorder. People don’t consider insomnia as a serious issue. This could be dangerous,” said Dr Avinash Desousa, a consultant psychiatric at Sion Hospital, which has seen an increase in the number of young patients with sleeping disorders and stress.
Dr Desousa added: “Our study suggests a correlation between insomnia and suicidal thoughts. If we can identify such patients earlier, we can counsel them and prevent them from taking the extreme step.”