Caxton show they care by displaying crazy socks
Showing that Caxton cares, we all heeded the call, put our money where our feet are, and displayed our crazy socks with pride, standing in solidarity with all our healthcare workers.
It is always good to make time to have some fun, but if you can do it while also showing your support and raising awareness for a good cause, so much the better.
This is what the staff members at the Caxton Joburg West office did on Friday, June 3, when they donned their most colourful, craziest, funkiest and even mismatched socks in support of our healthcare workers and their mental state.
#CrazySocks4DocsDay (#CS4D) is a day on which awareness is raised of the mental health needs of all our healthcare workers. Especially under Covid-19, their already crisis-level needs have given rise to another pandemic – mental health issues – and it is happening in a sector that needs to care for us, the public.
Every day, healthcare workers help and support many people who are facing health challenges, but the fact is that they also need help and support. Especially during Covid-19, the added strain, pressure, trauma and grief have led to increased anxiety, depression and PTSD. In some cases, even suicide.
#CS4D Day originated in 2017 in Australia as an initiative by cardiologist Dr Geoff Toogood after his traumatic experiences with his own mental health. In 2018, the Ithemba Foundation, a non-profit organisation that raises awareness around mental health, brought the campaign to South Africa.
Dr Toogood’s message to his fellow healthcare workers in South Africa this year is, “We’ve been trained to look after our patients, but we need to look after our colleagues, and above all, we need to look after ourselves”.
Medical doctor, author and philanthropist Dr Samke Ngcobo agreed, saying, “As a doctor living with mental illness it gives me great joy and pride to observe this day because it validates my struggles and humanises my journey in mental health as someone who has a dual role of being both a patient and healthcare provider. Our role in society often hinders us from bringing our vulnerability to the fore, and doing so makes us more relatable and easier to connect with.”
Showing that Caxton cares, we all heeded the call, put our money where our feet are, and displayed our crazy socks with pride, standing in solidarity with all our healthcare workers.
