These products and solutions should work alongside medical treatments and not replace them, said Gabrielle Covino, head of Healthcare Practitioner Communications and Content at Blackmores Institute, the Group’s research and education arm.

Data shows that 71% of consumers experience sleep issues, such as difficulty in falling and staying asleep, and waking up tired.

This is supported by studies indicating a bidirectional relationship between sleep and mood. Individuals with insomnia are more susceptible to mental illness such as anxiety and depression, and people with mood issues frequently face sleep problems.

Although not life-threatening in the short term, chronic stress and sleep disturbances have been linked to serious non-communicable diseases.

“Importantly, it’s a stage that is often overlooked by medical professionals who tend to focus on the severe end of mental disorders. Due to changes in sleep architecture associated with ageing, older adults are also at higher risk of sleep disturbances, compared to younger ones.​

“However, this is a challenge that doesn’t just affect the elderly and needs to be addressed much earlier in one’s lifespan. Therefore, solutions that are relevant across the demographics have become important,” ​Covino explained.  

According to Blackmores, one in four young adults aged between 18 and 24 have sleep problems, and about 50% of 16- to 17-year-olds do not get enough sleep.

Across all age groups, one-third sleep less than seven hours a night. Globally, eight in 10 adults want to improve their sleep quality.