Indigenous Youth Sleep Survey
A project looking at sleep education and practices within Indigenous youth across Canada
This project was completed by Mitchell Mathieson through the Indigenous Youth Research Mentorship Program at Canadian Roots Exchange
Age: 24 Cis Woman Cis Man Trans Man NonBinary 2-Spirit Agender Prefer not to Answer Other 62.5% 9.2% 1.7% 15% 17.5% 2.5% 3.3% 5% FirstNations Inuit Métis BlackPersonofColour White Other 75 50 25 0 % o f R e s p o n d en t s Total Participants: 122
Who Did We Survey? Average
Sleep Health of Participants
Only 14%
reported feeling well rested during the day
"not always the best quality"
56% take longer than 20min to fall asleep
"I feel constantly restless" What helps you sleep?
"anxiety keeps me up"
Average Sleep: Weekday = 6-7 hours Weekend = 7-8 hours
"exhausted mentally and physically"
>80% feel like they are not getting enough sleep, and notice effects because of it
white noise, smudging, relaxing, medications
What hinders your sleep?
anxiety, noise, electronics
"I have a hard time falling and sustaining sleep"
School & Sleep Knowledge
Are unsure, or think they did not learn enough about sleep from school
94% Think more emphasis should be placed on sleep within schools
How much have you learned about healthy sleep from school?
Building Healthy Sleep Hygiene Benefits of Healthy Sleep The Science Behind Healthy Sleep 1. 2. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 30 20 10 0 # o f R e s p o n s e s
85% Top Areas of Interest
Nothing
A lot
Community & Sleep Knowledge
93%
How much have you learned about healthy
your community?
Nothing A lot
"sleep was mostly associated with capacity to work"
"connection between sleep and mental health" "get 8 hours"
"we are taught from the Creator to respect ourselves"
from
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 15 10 5 0
unsure, or
did not learn enough about sleep from
community
sleep
Are
think they
their
# o f R e s p o n s e s
Would potentially like to learn more about sleep from their community 77%
School Suggestions
Suggestions from youth for improving sleep education within the educational/school system
Removal of Sleep for Productivity Mentality
Sleep should be for your health and well being, not to make you more productive Colonial "grind" mentality perpetuates this Courses Specific for Sleep & Health
Courses/units dedicated to sleep
Including health benefits, building habits, and the science behind sleep
Support & Education for Mental Health
Mental health is an ongoing issue for youth which impacts their sleep
Supporting mental health will aim at improving root causes for sleep disruptions
1. a. b.
2. a. b.
3. a. b.
Community Suggestions
Suggestions from youth for improving sleep education within the community
Community Led Health Education Programs
Many Indigenous youth would like to learn more about sleep from a cultural lens Community led workshops, infographics, or other supportive programs
Creating Space for Open Conversations
Peer and support groups where youth and community can discuss ongoing health issues to find appropriate resolutions
Utilizing a Multiple Lens Approach
Ensure that sleep education doesn't default to Western hustle culture
Find ways to integrate and collaborate
Traditional and Western practices
1. a. b.
2. a.
3. a. b.
Final Statement
We know how important sleep is for our health, but the attention that it is given does not reflect this. The idolization of sleep as a means for productivity needs to stop, and replaced with teachings of sleep for personal health and well - being.
Indigenous youth know what is best for their own journey, their voices and ideas need to be heard and acted upon. The lethargic approach to sleep health has only allowed the issue to worsen, and will continue to worsen unless acted upon.
Plausible solutions have been provided both for community and educational standpoints. Local leadership, along with youth, can begin working to better understand how these suggestions can support their own youth and what else they may need.
