The annual CrazySocks4Docs (CS4D) initiative aims to show support to the mental health of healthcare workers, and is particularly relevant during the global Covid-19 pandemic. This was according to prof Lizette Rabe, a founder of the Ithemba Foundation and an organiser of the campaign.
CS4D-day, which takes place on 29 May, was organised by the Ithemba Foundation.
The public, especially medical students and health care workers, is encouraged to wear brightly coloured and mismatched socks on CS4D-day to show their support for this cause, said Rabe.
The public is encouraged to wear colourful and mismatched socks on CrazySocks4Docs (CS4D) day to show their support. PHOTO: Supplied by Jana van Rensburg.
The initiative will show solidarity to the medical professionals working on the frontline, said Rabe.
“Medical professionals, already stretched to the limits under normal circumstances, now also have to focus all their time, energy and expertise on Covid-19,” it was stated in a press release by the Ithemba Foundation.
According to Rabe, the stress of Covid-19 is taking its toll on their mental health.
“The focus of the campaign is for the public to show we #Care4OurCarers on #CrazySocks4Docs day. So, even under lockdown, we can still put on our mismatched socks and go for our morning walk, run or cycle to show we #Care4OurCarers,” said Rabe.
#Care4OurCarers
The Ithemba Foundation and CS4D-day acknowledges that medical professionals have the highest incidence of mental ill-health of all professions, and also the highest incidence of suicide, said Rabe.
The public are encouraged to share a photo of their mismatched socks to the Ithemba Foundation’s Facebook page, she said.
The medical student on each of South Africa’s medical campuses whose “sock selfie” gets the most likes, will win R1 000, said Rabe.
SU Support
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences will be supporting the campaign this year, according to prof Jimmy Volmink, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at SU.
“As a leading South African medicine and health sciences faculty, we are and have always been proud of supporting initiatives, which place the spotlight on the mental wellness of health professionals,” said Volmink.
Prof Jimmy Volmink, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University, and colleagues wearing their mismatched socks to show support for health care workers, last year. PHOTO: Supplied by Florence De Vries.
SU applauds this initiative and any efforts made to reach out to frontline workers to show that the public cares, said dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, director of the Centre for Student Counselling and Development.
“We need to focus on communal mental health and an initiative, like CS4D, is an excellent example of how to practically do this,” said Dunn-Coetzee.
According to Volmink, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has a good relationship with the Ithemba Foundation.
“[The support] is evidenced through our commitment to ensure that our healthcare professionals and students have access to channels of counselling and/or treatment should they require it, especially at this time,” said Volmink.
Stellenbosch University students wearing their mismatched socks at last year’s CrazySocks4Docs day. PHOTO: Supplied by Jana van Rensburg.
*Lizette Rabe is a professor in the Department of Journalism. Students from this department produce MatieMedia independently.