Socks 4 Docs – Support Doctors’ Mental Health

June 13, 2024

I’m wearing my green and yellow kangaroo socks to work. It’s a bit of an odd pairing with suit pants, but I’m doing it to support Crazy Socks 4 Docs. This day is something that I had never heard about before joining Absolute Balance, but it has been held on the first Friday of June every year since 2017 to raise awareness and attempt to address the stigma around mental health in doctors.


A report published by Beyondblue explained that doctors reported substantially higher rates of psychological distress and suicidal thoughts compared to both the Australian population and other Australian professionals. The difference in the level of very high psychological distress was most noticeable when it looked at a population that was aged 30 years and below. Within this population, 5.0% of male and 6.6% of female doctors were classified as having very high levels of psychological distress, compared to 1.6% of males and 3.4% of females in the general population, and 0.4% of males and 0.6% of females that worked as other professionals.


So how can we support this amazing cause? The Socks 4 Docs website details 3 simple steps that we can all follow:

  • Step 1: Find some really crazy coloured socks and put them on.
  • Step 2: Take a photo of those socks or you in those socks.
  • Step 3: Post the photo on social media and use the hashtag #crazysocks4docs


It’s important to always check in with your friends and family to have the important conversations that might not be easy but could save a life, and support is always available. Please see the link to the lifeline Australia website below. Participating in Crazysocks4docs and taking a first step towards making a difference is that easy! So, get out your wackiest socks and your phone’s camera, and get posting to make a difference for doctors’ mental health!


References:

-         crazysocks4docs.com.au

-         Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.


Jordan Greenwood

Workers Compensation Specialist (AEP, ESSAM)

     

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