Wearing crazy socks for a serious cause

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) team members recently donned their most colourful socks in support of Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day, a campaign created to highlight the mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals, especially doctors.

Cardiac surgeon Dr Geoff Toogood founded Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day in 2017 to bring attention to the barriers healthcare workers face when seeking help for their mental health.

Having previously suffered from depression and anxiety, Dr Toogood wanted to share his story in the hope of reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues.

MPHN CEO Melissa Neal said increased demand for primary healthcare and the challenges this brings can impact the mental health of our general practitioners.

“Our GPs and healthcare professionals are incredibly important to our communities, with many in our smaller communities not only providing primary healthcare, but being active and engaged community members too,” Ms Neal said.

“They know the many health challenges people in their communities are facing. In addition to being the local doctor, they’re also colleagues, friends, family and valued community members.

“We want to ensure all doctors and healthcare workers are supported when seeking assistance for mental health challenges, and this Crazy Sock 4 Docs Day I encourage all our general practitioners to reach out for support if they need to.”

Wagga Wagga GP Dr Jonathon Ho has a special interest in mental health and is working in youth and adult mental health, in addition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Dr Ho said there is a deeply-embedded professional culture in which doctors are often expected to deal with personal challenges by themselves.

‘“Unfortunately, there remains a stigma around doctors and healthcare professionals seeking help for mental health issues,” Dr Ho said.

“I believe many doctors avoid seeking help for fear of being seen as weak, concern about their privacy, and the potential stigma and discrimination that may impact their career.

“Doctors are people too; they experience depression, anxiety, and burnout. It’s critical that we support doctors and healthcare professionals to seek mental health assistance, because we need our doctors to be well; and I would certainly encourage my colleagues to reach out for support whenever they need it.”

For more information about Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day, visit crazysocks4docs.com.au

For mental health support, visit mphn.org.au/connect