Mental health and sleep during basic combat training and beyond

There are emerging links between disturbed sleep and mental illness. These associations may have particular relevance for military populations which are often faced with extremely stressful situations and profound sleep deprivation. Indeed, disturbed sleep has been predictive of mental illness following exposure to trauma, and, conversely, treatment of sleep problems has helped alleviate mental illness. There is a need for further investigation of sleep and mental health of soldiers participating in basic combat training (BCT), which is clearly also associated with sleep loss and stress.