Despite increased awareness on the importance of sleep, many people with sleep disorders do not seek help from a physician for the diagnosis or management of the disorder and many even choose to self-medicate. This results in many sleep disorders remaining undiagnosed and untreated. Studies showed that mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With continued pressure on all health services the need for early intervention has never been greater. Early recognition and treatment of common sleep disorders help minimise significant health, social and fiscal consequences. Community pharmacy is recognised as a valuable and trusted public health resource which delivers several preventative and public health programmes.
