Attendees at ASO's Skills Expo show off their crazy socks in support of Crazy Socks 4 Docs.
The mental health and wellbeing of healthcare practitioners was under the spotlight at the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) annual meeting, held in Sydney in June.
More than 100 ophthalmologists and ophthalmic industry representatives attended the ASO Skills expo to join Crazy Socks 4 Docs Founder, Dr Geoff Toogood, in donning ‘super eye’ socks ahead of Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day, held on 7 June 2024.
Crazy Socks 4 Docs is a national, turned global, movement that aims to break down the stigma attached to mental health in doctors.
Held annually on the first Friday in June, Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day is an opportunity for doctors to put on bright and bold socks that can help ignite conversations in hospital corridors and operating theatres about mental health and wellbeing — and potentially save lives.
ASO President, Dr Peter Sumich, said the occasion is more poignant than ever for Australia’s ophthalmologists.
“Like all medical communities across the country, ours has not gone untouched, and we have experienced the loss of esteemed colleagues and friends to this silent pandemic,” Dr Sumich said.
Dr Sumich launched a mental health and wellbeing survey, “through which we hope to identify any gaps or shortcomings that can be addressed to ensure appropriate services and resources are available to ophthalmologists”.
He said the latest Medical Training Survey had highlighted ophthalmology trainees are working almost eight hours more than the average Australian doctor in training.1
“At an average 53.3 hours per week, this is also the highest recorded in the Medical Training Survey since it was launched five years ago”, Dr Sumich said.
If we can reduce doctors’ suicide around the world, we will have achieved what we set out to do.
Crazy Socks 4 Docs
Dr Geoff Toogood, a consultant cardiologist in Melbourne, founded the Crazy Socks 4 Docs movement after identifying an urgent need.
“Through my own experiences with depression and anxiety, I faced stigma and discrimination at many levels,” Dr Toogood explained.
“I was determined that once I recovered from my own demons, I would instigate a movement to help other healthcare professionals and break down the stigma we face.
“If we can reduce doctors’ suicide around the world, we will have achieved what we set out to do.
He said it was vital for health professionals to look after their mental wellbeing because “if we are not functioning in our whole capacity, we can’t possibly look after our patients”.
On the same theme, Dr Jaya Reddy, Psychiatrist and Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne spoke about anxiety and building resilience.
He said the conversation around anxiety and mental health was “not about catastrophising anxiety or traumatising it”, but rather about “listening to that person’s story and validating and not judging” to “break that cycle of stigma and foster support”.
To donate to the Crazy Socks 4 Docs charity, visit: crazysocks4docs.com.au/donations/donation-form/
