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Discussants

0:00:00
Sleep Health Advocacy Perspectives: Canadian Context
Rebecca Robillard (Canada)

0:10:30
Global perspectives on sleep health advocacy: Insights and experiences Iran
Arezu Najafi (Iran)

0:26:25
Sleep Health Advocacy in the UK
Jason Ellis (United Kingdom)

0:40:50
Sleep Health Advocacy Perspectives from Nigeria
Morenikeji Komolafe (Nigeria)

0:52:50
Sleep Health Advocacy: Insights and Experiences from Australia
Andrew Vakulin (Australia)

1:02:00
Public Policy for Sleep in America
Julie Flygare (United States)

Summary

The recent call to action of the World Sleep Society’s Global Sleep Health Taskforce to recognize sleep health as a foundation of human health has provided the impetus for greater dialogue about sleep health promotion in public health and the translation of scientific evidence to inform policies related to mental and physical health. This symposium will provide a platform for sharing perspectives and experiences on sleep health advocacy work spanning five continents.

To foster open discussions, a panel of clinicians, scientists, and a patient representative will share perspectives from Iran, the UK, Nigeria, the USA, Australia, and Canada. These brief presentations will explore challenges and advancements in sleep medicine and highlight how sleep health intersects with broader public health issues.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this CME activity, participants will be able to:

· Analyze how recommendations from the World Sleep Society Global Sleep Health Taskforce, national surveys, and key advancements/challenges in sleep medicine practice can guide the development of effective sleep health policies across various countries.
· Evaluate the role of community leaders and patient advocates in influencing policymakers and securing federal support for sleep education, awareness, and public health initiatives.
· Identify and apply strategies for promoting sleep awareness and deploying evidence-based prevention, screening and treatment programs at scale
· Assess how new monitoring technologies may simplify sleep disorders screening, diagnosis and management in the community and primary care
 
The following issues will be addressed during this discussion group:
· The most urgent needs for sleep health education and awareness and for addressing healthcare gaps that contribute to health disparities.
· Engaging with communities and amplifying patient voices to better understand diverse sleep experiences and advocate for change.
· Strategic initiatives to integrate sleep in public health agendas (e.g. national sleep health surveillance, environmental scans and needs assessments)
· Development and promotion of national sleep health guidelines for sleep assessments and treatments.  
· Development of scalable solutions to improve access to sleep assessments and treatments, including workforce development approaches.
· The need for collaborative partnerships among different organizations in the sleep field to promote sleep health through coordinated initiatives.