It was nothing but smiles when Queensland Health staff marked Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day on Friday 5 June.
With staff donning their brightest socks for the occasion, those at The Prince Charles Hospital even got some puppy cuddles for an added serotonin boost.
Crazysocks4docs was started back in 2017 to raise awareness and promote action for mental health in doctors and healthcare workers.
This year’s theme was ‘safe to speak up’ and focused on ensuring our environments allow clinicians to put their hands up when things are tough and know that support is available.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day was a cheerful way to shed light on a challenging situation.
“Doctors and healthcare workers are not immune to mental health conditions that affect the general population, such as depression and anxiety, particularly those early in their careers,” Dr McDougall said.
“They dedicate their lives to improving health outcomes for their communities, so it’s imperative they are given both organisational and individual support in return, and feel safe to speak up if they are struggling.
“Queensland Health provides a range of resources tailored specifically for doctors, recognising the unique pressures and responsibilities associated with medical training and clinical practice, and we are focused on creating organisational environments that support doctors’ health and wellbeing.
“We also encourage everyone in the community to be kind and considerate and show respect to all our doctors and health care workers.”
Doctor Kulunu Guruge said that while mental health in the workplace can be a complex issue, he’s been happy to see a much broader awareness and understanding of it in recent years.
“In the past, mental health was a bit taboo and not really spoken about, but it's great to see everyone be so much more open when they are feeling overwhelmed, and to know they’ll get more support through those times,” he said.
“It doesn't take much – just a coffee together, a quick bite to eat and a chat. It's usually not a big issue, but sometimes you just need someone to hear you, someone to guide you through it.
“I always feel glad when someone feels comfortable enough to reach out to me or ask for help. It’s never a burden – I always love a chat.
“I've had days where I've felt burnt out or I've had a crazy workload or a patient's been upset or something like that, but I know I've got good bosses, good friends, good colleagues and good staff around that I can always reach out to and always feel listened to.”
If you are, or know somebody who is struggling, there are a range of supports available. A good starting point is speaking with your GP, or one of the following services: