NEWS DESK
Socking it to doctors’ depression Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au DOCTORS need to start helping themselves as well as others. That’s the message a Frankston Hospital cardiologist hopes to spread by encouraging medical profession colleagues to show support for the alltoo-often hidden sufferers of depression in their ranks. Dr Geoff Toogood hopes a “crazysocks4docs” day last Thursday (1 June) when medical colleagues wore bright and “crazy” socks will become an annual event to let doctors, nurses and anyone working in the at times highly stressful medical profession to seek help if they ever feel depressed. Dr Toogood had the idea for the crazy socks day partly from personal experience when he did not feel too good and faced a bout of severe depression in 2013. The doctor said he had suicidal thoughts because he wanted mental anguish and pain to end despite not wanting to die. “I think we’re bad at looking after our own health. We’re slow at recognising problems,” Dr Toogood said. He decided to launch the crazysocks4docs initiative after he accidentally wore odd socks — his dog stole one — and colleagues asked him if he “was OK”. It made him realise people, despite often being well meaning, do not know when someone is struggling with “invisible” depression. “I’m trying to break down the stig-
ma doctors can face when they have mental health issues and it’s about asking them to get help and showing support for them,” Dr Toogood said. “We lose colleagues across the country to suicide regularly.” Career discrimination and being judged as “weak” by some colleagues often stop doctors and medical professionals seeking help with sometimes fatal consequences, according to Dr Toogood.
Physicians heal thyselves: Dr Geoff Toogood wants doctors to open up and talk to each other about stresses and strains felt in the medical profession. Picture: Gary Sissons
He says understanding of mental health problems afflicting the medical profession “is inching forward but it’s not fantastic”. The doctor also hopes to partly re-
The Metro Tunnel will free up Melbourne’s biggest bottleneck We’re building the Metro Tunnel to eliminate congestion in the City Loop, by running three of our busiest train lines through a new tunnel. It’s a huge project and there will be road and public transport disruptions, but it will untangle the network and create more space for more trains across Melbourne. > > > > > > >
More train services at peak times to and from the outer suburbs 48% more peak capacity on the Sandringham line 45% more peak capacity on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line 15% more peak capacity on the Frankston line Around 5,000 new jobs created Direct rail connections to universities, hospitals and recreation areas Five new underground stations – two directly connected to the City Loop
Construction is underway at Arden, Parkville, along St Kilda Road and in the city. Works will also occur between Domain Road and Toorak Road West from Friday 2 June to Tuesday 11 July. See if you’re affected at metrotunnel.vic.gov.au
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Frankston Times 5 June 2017
claim the word “crazy” from meaning “mentally disturbed”. “I tried to come up with a fun idea to unite doctors across the country and in the past, ‘crazy’ meant ‘fun’.” The Beaumaris resident has worked at Frankston Hospital for more than 20 years. He says he now feels “really good” but is also always aware of trying to be in “the green zone” or “amber zone” instead of slipping into “the red zone”
of severe depression and suicidal thoughts. “Now I’m much more aware if I’m struggling or tired. I’ll make sure I do all the things to help me make sure I don’t go down that path again.” And seek help from others instead of “bottling it all up inside”. n Support and information about suicide prevention can be obtained at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.