People suffering from chronic sleeping disorders should pay more attention to their mental health if they want a better night's sleep, experts urged ahead of World Sleep Day on Saturday.

"Almost all patients I receive experience sleeping disorders," said Bai Xiaoli, a psychiatrist at Beijing Friendship Hospital.

"Many patients with sleep disorders were totally unaware of the fact that they suffer psychological or mental problems, which in fact are the major reason for their sleep disorder."

She said patients who suffer from psychological problems such as anxiety and depression tend to ignore their symptoms.

"Some suspected they have physical diseases that led to their sleep disorder, and some totally relied on medication for treatment, which made them more dependent on medication," she said.

According to a report released by the China Sleep Research Society, 38 percent of Chinese adults experience insomnia, but only 21 percent of them have ever gone to a hospital for treatment. Insomnia is the most common form of sleep disorder in China, the association said.

"The number of people with sleep disorders in China is increasing, but their knowledge about sleep disorders is scarce," according to a statement released by the agency earlier this week.

"Psychological health is a major factor that affects sleep, and improving sleeping should start with improving our psychological health," the statement said.

Sleep disorders have a huge impact on health, work performance and happiness, and deserve more attention, according to the statement.

"Insomnia is a syndrome that usually indicates problems with mental health," said Yang Lei, a psychiatrist at Peking University Sixth Hospital.

Yang said many of his patients who suffer from insomnia have problems with mental or psychological health, and some have serious mental diseases.

"Social prejudice is a reason why few people suffering mental problems would admit they have the problem and go to see a doctor," he said.

"Many patients' family members also lack awareness and ignore the fact the patients suffer from mental diseases. They point to other reasons, such as they are not strong, until serious consequences such as patients committing suicide happen," he said.

There are about 17 million people with mental diseases in China, the China Sleep Research Society said.

Media reports about celebrities or officials committing suicide due to insomnia caused by problems such as depression have gripped public attention in recent years.

Those suffering regularly from insomnia should consult psychiatrists or psychologists at hospitals or clinics for treatment, Yang said. "It is important to find the factors that cause insomnia," he said.

wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/21/2015 page4)