#CRAZYSOCKS4DOCS
“Crazy Socks for Docs” (#CS4D) is an annual event which highlights mental health challenges experienced by doctors and makes it OK to talk about them.
Just like any person doctors can experience the full range of mental health issues - anxiety, depression, burnout, fear, anger and more.
The high-pressure nature of the job and some of the circumstances doctors are exposed to – not to mention working hours and conditions – can leave doctors vulnerable. Concerningly, doctors have a high suicide rate compared to most other professions.
You can read more about how "Crazy Socks 4 Docs" came about and the aims of the event below.
FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE
Presented by SASMOA and Doctors Health SA the launch of the 2022 #CrazySocks4 Docs Campaign will be held from 6.45am to 9am on Friday 3 June at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
Get a group of colleagues and friends together, pop on your socks, and join Keynote Speakers Dr Geoff Toogood (founder of Crazy Socks for Docs) and Dr Tahnee Bridson, Founder of Hand-n-Hand Peer Support and the 2022 Queensland Young Australian of the Year, plus a panel of local experts to discuss the issue of doctors’ mental health and wellbeing and share initiatives that are creating Awareness, promoting Advocacy and resulting in Action.
Dr Bridson is a Psychiatry Registrar originally from Far North Queensland, deputy chair of the AMACDT Wellbeing Special Interest Group, and on the Psychiatry College Trainee Representative Committee. Hand-n-Hand Peer Support (Helping Australian & New Zealand Nurses and Doctors) was founded in March 2020 - you can read more about it here: https://www.handnhand.org.au/
Book your tickets ($129 per person) or tables here
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Ticket price is fully reimbursable as Professional Development
All Funds raised will go directly to The Crazysocks4docs Trust Foundation
Full details are available on the event website here:
https://ampheat.com.au/event/crazysocks4docs-breakfast-2022
History of #CS4D
Crazy Socks for Docs was created by Victorian doctor Geoff Toogood in 2017, who has lived experience of depression and anxiety.
After wearing odd socks to work one day, Dr Toogood found people were talking behind his back and questioning his mental health. The reality was, his new puppy had been eating his socks but he was struck by the stigma and discrimination still associated with mental health and wellbeing.
The initiative – now a global movement – calls upon people everywhere to wear fun socks on the first Friday in June, to raise awareness and normalise the mental health conversation. You can read more on https://www.crazysocks4docs.com.au/
SASMOA began supporting Crazy Socks for Docs in 2019 and it has grown each year.
#CS4D 2021
In 2021 SASMOA and Doctors' Health SA embraced Crazy Socks for Docs with a major fundraising breakfast which featured guest speaker Professor Michael Kidd (Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer) and a Panel of speakers, facilitated by Paul Kitching.
LEFT - Professor Michael Kidd being interviewed by Paul Kitching
BELOW - Panel of Speakers, from L to R
Mr Huy Pham medical student at Adelaide University and representative for the Australian Medical Student Association; Dr Maria Gardiner Clinical Psychologist & Co-Director ThinkWell; Dr Katie Woodhouse, Emergency Medical Registrar; Dr Christine Lai Senior Staff Specialist Queen Elizabeth Hospital; Dr Penny Need GP and Medical Educator; Mr Joep van Agteren Co-Lead SAHMRI Wellbeing & Resilience Centre; Dr Roger Sexton, Medical Director, Doctors’ Health SA
Health Minister Stephen Wade (right) and
Shadow Health Minister Chris Picton
SASMOA President Dr Laura Willington (left) and
Chief Industrial Officer Bernadette Mulholland
#CS4D 2020
In 2020 SA health professionals and SASMOA embraced Crazy Socks for Docs, not just by wearing colourful socks (see video below), but with a series of video messages and other promotional activities.
Video Messages about mental health from SASMOA doctors
The following SASMOA doctors kindly provided video messages to promote #CrazySocks4Docs Day 2020.