I've had countless sleepless nights and I don't shy away from thinking about how lack of sleep can affect me in the long run. A crucial question that came to mind regarding mental illness and sleep was: How much regular minimal sleep would an individual develop a mental illness? While it is comforting to know that stable sleep can improve a person's health and relieve the symptoms of a mental illness once diagnosed, I would like to research and understand what level of sleep disruption possibly causes a brain disorder.