To highlight mental illness among doctors, particularly for medical students and those in their first year of practice, Warrnambool's Deakin Medical School is encouraging people to partake in Crazy Socks 4 Docs on Friday.
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Jordan Kirby is in his final year of study and has been in Warrnambool for the past 18 months.
"The subject is now not as hidden," he said.
"Now the day is celebrated and conversations around mental health are looked at in a positive light.
"A lot of doctors are aware there are much higher rates of of suicide and mental illness in junior doctors and students.
"The socks themselves are a great and fun way to open this conversation and approach the issue."
Crazy Socks 4 Docs was founded by Dr Geoff Toogood who sits on the board of South West Healthcare.
Director of the Warrnambool Medical School and Western Victoria Training Hub associate professor Barry Morphett said crazy socks shines a light on an issue which was long swept aside.
"When I was a boy, mental health was never raised but over the past 10 years there has been a considerable movement to address these issues," he said.
It can be a very stressful environment and often people think they're weak because they can't cope.
- Barry Morphett
"The crazy socks allow patients and the public to see medical professionals as other members of the community who are prone to stress and strain the same as anyone else."
Medical school project officer Cara English hopes Crazy Socks 4 Docs will be a successful event in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"Now is a good time to recognise the amount of responsibility doctors have, support them and bring awareness to mental health," she said.
"We hope everyone will be wearing the socks and have them on show."
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