How Can Sleep Be Connected to Mental Problems?

How Can Sleep Be Connected to Mental Problems?

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In a poignant and timely episode of the More Than Teeth Podcast, Dr. Michael Bennett is joined by his wife, Cathy, and their close friend Natalie to confront a deeply emotional and urgent topic: the rise in teenage suicides and the hidden role sleep and breathing disorders may play in these tragedies.

As two local teens took their lives within one week, their community—and many others like it—grapples with the unspoken, overlooked truths about adolescent health. The trio dives deep into the science, personal stories, and practical strategies to identify and prevent the sleep-related crises silently affecting today's youth.

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A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

Teen suicide rates continue to rise, particularly in high-altitude regions like Utah. Experts have pointed to environmental factors such as oxygen deprivation at elevation, but Dr. Bennett and his guests believe there's an equally dangerous and often missed factor at play: chronic sleep deprivation caused by undiagnosed sleep breathing disorders.

Natalie speaks as both a mother and a former teenager who struggled silently. As she recalls, “High school was a nightmare. I know now I wasn’t breathing or sleeping well. Back then, I just thought I was broken.”

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Why Sleep Deprivation Is More Than Just Being Tired

Modern life shortchanges sleep, especially for adolescents. With academic pressures, extracurricular activities, screen time, and stimulants like caffeine and energy drinks, many teens go to bed late—and wake up too early.

Yet, as Cathy and Natalie point out, the problem isn’t just about how long they’re in bed. It’s about the quality of their sleep. And here’s the kicker: it doesn’t matter how many hours a teen is “asleep” if their breathing is disrupted all night.

Dr. Bennett breaks down the biology:

• Low oxygen from poor breathing at night starves the brain.
  
  
• This disrupts emotional regulation, impulse control, and judgment.
  
  
• Over time, it can contribute to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation.
  
  

He cites neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Walker’s findings that just four hours of sleep deprivation can suppress natural killer T-cells—the body’s primary cancer-fighting mechanism—by up to 70%. That’s how foundational sleep is to every system in the body.

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High School Start Times: What One Study Revealed

One compelling study changed high school start times from 7:35 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. The results were astonishing:

• Teen car crash rates dropped by 70%.
  
  
• Depression symptoms decreased.
  
  
• Caffeine consumption and risky behaviors fell.
  
  
• Grades improved.
  
  

“Just giving them one more hour of sleep changed everything,” says Dr. Bennett. “Why we don’t universally implement this is beyond me.”

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What Parents Can Look For—And Do

The good news is that signs of sleep-disordered breathing are visible—if you know what to look for.

Physical and Behavioral Red Flags:

• Dark circles under the eyes
  
  
• Mouth breathing or dry lips
  
  
• Crowded teeth or frequent cavities
  
  
• Snoring (even just a little is not normal)
  
  
• Irritability, anxiety, or depression
  
  
• Bedwetting, even beyond early childhood
  
  
• Academic struggles or attention issues
  
  

Dr. Bennett urges all caregivers—parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles—to observe their children closely. “If you notice anything that feels off, it probably is. Don’t let anyone brush it off with ‘they’ll grow out of it.’”

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Natalie’s Story: From Tears to Triumph

Natalie’s children were textbook cases. Her daughter snored loudly, struggled academically, and was constantly exhausted. Her son ground his teeth so loudly at night it woke her from sleep. Both had visibly large tonsils and were labeled as kids with ADD-like symptoms.

After a proper sleep assessment and airway-centered intervention, everything changed:

• Her daughter became a top student and softball star.
  
  
• Her son, once on the verge of failing first grade, now reads and excels socially.
  
  
• Bedtimes are peaceful. Homework is no longer a battleground.
  
  

“I was told they were fine. But I knew they weren’t,” Natalie says. “Now they’re sleeping well. They’re thriving. It saved them—and saved me as a mom.”

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A Call to Action for Every Family

Dr. Bennett ends the episode with a powerful appeal:

“If we want to save lives, we need to look at sleep—especially airway health—as a foundational piece of the puzzle. When we breathe well, we sleep well. And when we sleep well, our brains can function, repair, and cope with life’s challenges.”

For parents: Observe. Ask questions. Don’t settle for vague reassurances.

For providers: Dentists and pediatricians must be equipped to screen for airway problems. If they aren’t, connect them with professionals who are.

For communities: Push for later school start times. Re-evaluate our relationship with sleep as a society.

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Final Thoughts: Unleashing the Healing Power of Sleep

In the face of alarming suicide statistics and rising youth anxiety, the conversation must shift toward prevention—starting with sleep. Not just more of it, but better, healthier, airway-supported sleep.

If one podcast episode can save even one life by sparking this realization, it’s a conversation well worth having.

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🛏️ Your child’s next good night’s sleep could be their biggest step toward lifelong health.

📨 For more information or to refer your dentist or pediatrician for training, contact: dr.bennett@vivoslife.com

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