Sleep is Good for EU: WSCN at the table in Europe

WSCN Participates in Shaping Public Health Practices and Policies Around Sleep in the EU

WSCN Chief Patient Officer, Susan Manber in conversation.

At WSCN, we know that sleep and circadian health and science have historically been overlooked in medicine, public health, and daily life. This is why we were excited to be among the 30 participants invited to the Sleep Health EU Coalition Launch Event, where professionals from different sectors—including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, and advocacy organizations—came together to discuss the critical role of sleep health in European public health policy.

“The Sleep Health Europe Launch Event took place at the beginning of the European Sleep Awareness Month 2026. The format was a curated, invite-only roundtable – designed not as a conference, but as a working policy session with a clear purpose: to open the conversation, identify shared priorities, and build the foundation for a sustained coalition effort.”

– Sleep Health EU Post-Event Report

After an intensive day of listening to speaker presentations, participating in round table discussions, and making connections with other professionals, we left feeling optimistic about the future of sleep health in the EU.

Here are a few takeaways from the event:

Key Statistics for Sleep Health Across Europe

Poor sleep is a major public health concern, with significant impact on the physical, mental, and financial health of people across the union.

Key Themes

Speakers stressed the health, economic, and societal impacts of sleep disorders and called for integrating sleep health into EU health policy, research, and prevention initiatives.

Key Points:

• Sleep is a major public health issue affecting cardiovascular disease, mental health, immune function, and neurological conditions.
• There is a need for greater screening and earlier diagnosis.
• It is important not to overlook the high economic and societal costs of untreated sleep disorders.
• There is a lack of clear ownership of sleep health within existing healthcare systems.
• Opportunities exist to integrate sleep health into EU cardiovascular and noncommunicable disease strategies.

Key messages captured in the EU branding.

Noteworthy Discussion Points

Strong Policy Engagement

In his opening remarks, European Parliament Member Tomislav Sokol emphasized the need for sleep health to receive the same level of policy attention as major EU initiatives such as the Beating Cancer plan. He noted that approximately 45% of Europeans experience sleep problems with clinical consequences, reinforcing the need to include sleep in the EU’s upcoming 7-year research and funding priorities.

The Case for Public Health: Compelling Clinical Evidence for Sleep and Wellness

Dr. Allanna Hare, President of the British Sleep Society, presented strong evidence linking sleep to:

• Brain health and cognitive decline
• Cardiovascular disease
• Immune system function
• Mental health outcomes
• Workplace safety and transportation safety

Recognition of Sleep as a Cross-Disciplinary Health Issue

Speakers repeatedly highlighted that sleep affects multiple health systems but currently lacks a clear “home” within healthcare policy, creating an opportunity for organizations like WSCN to help frame the issue.

“Let’s move away from short-term grants and start thinking about three to five-year strategic partnerships where we can really make a very focused impact.”

— Meg Langley (WSCN)

“There’s no physical health without mental health. There’s neither without sleep. But when’s the last time your GP asked how you’re sleeping at your physical? That’s why we’ve tackled language and lexicon [about sleep and circadian health] as a key aspect of what we’re doing.”

— Susan Manber, WSCN, Sleep Health Europe Launch Event, 5 March 2026

Susan Manber speaking at the round table.

What’s Next?

By the end of the day, we were full of information and ideas. The group identified four major areas to tackle:

• Fragmentation Across Health Systems: Sleep health spans multiple medical disciplines (cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, endocrinology), making it difficult to assign policy ownership or responsibility.
• Diagnosis Bottlenecks: Participants noted that in some systems wait times for sleep diagnoses can reach up to 1 year, highlighting major access challenges. Health workers themselves are heavily impacted.
• Missing Stakeholders: Payers and reimbursement decision-makers were largely absent from the conversation, despite their roles in determining access to screening and treatment.
• Technology Adoption Challenges: While sleep tracking technologies are increasingly available, there remains variation in clinician acceptance and integration into clinical practice.

The Sleep Health EU Coalition Launch Event marked a pivotal step toward transforming how we view and address sleep in Europe. With science, policy, and advocacy now aligned, there is real momentum to prioritize sleep as an essential pillar of public health.

As we look ahead, WSCN is committed to driving collaboration, raising awareness, and ensuring that sleep health becomes a fundamental part of healthcare strategies across the EU and the world. Together, we can help everyone realize the power of sleep and circadian health for healthier, more vibrant lives.

Meg Langley and Susan Manber with other SLEEP EU delegates.