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Faculty of Health Sciences host another successful Crazysocks4Docs Day

08 June 2022 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Reuben Maeko

The high-pressure nature of working in the health sector and some of the conditions under which doctors have to work and to which they are exposed not only make them vulnerable, but it might have an effect on their mental state.

It is for this reason that the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) celebrates the CrazySocks4Docs campaign each year. In order to create awareness on the importance of medical students’ mental health, Investec once again sponsored crazy socks for our undergraduate medical students this year, after a very successful CrazySocks4Docs Day in 2021.

Crazy Socks for Docs was created in 2017 by Victorian doctor Geoff Toogood, who has a lived experience of depression and anxiety.

After wearing odd socks to work one day, Dr Toogood found that people were talking behind his back and questioning his mental health. The reality was that his new puppy ate his socks, but he was struck by the stigma and discrimination still associated with mental health and well-being.

Angie Vorster, Clinical Psychologist from the School of Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences, says students and staff were encouraged to wear mismatched, colourful, crazy socks on 3 June 2022 in order to draw attention to the mental health and well-being of our medical students and medical doctors – who have carried us through more than two years of a pandemic.

“The more we speak about mental health and change the narrative around mental illness as normal life experiences, the better we are able to reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behaviour among our healthcare professionals,” says Vorster.

Head of Surgery, Dr Nicholas Pearce; Acting Head of the School of Clinical Medicine, Prof Hanneke Brits; the Programme Director of the Undergraduate School of Clinical Medicine, Dr Yolandi Swart; and Arishka Kalicharan, the Phase I Chairperson, along with the School of Clinical Medicine's Clinical Psychologist, Angie Vorster, came to celebrate their socks with medical students.

“The students took a break from studying for their exams to have some fun. Even though it was freezing outside, our toes were as warm as our hearts. A great big word of thanks to Investec for caring about our students' mental health and always supporting our endeavours in the Faculty of Health Sciences. It takes a village to train a doctor!’

Time for a picture. Medical students take pictures of their crazy socks during the Faculty of Health Sciences’ CrazySocks4Docs Day.

From the left; Arishka Kalicharan, Angie Vorster,Dr Yolandi Swart, and Prof Hanneke Brits

A group of medical students show off their new socks in support of the CrazySocks4Docs Day.

News Archive

Women must fight for equal opportunities - Motshekga

2010-08-06

Photo: Stephen Collett

“We will not know peace and prosperity unless all women are free. We must open opportunities for women and make sure that we achieve the necessary progress. I believe this would be the best way to honour the life of Charlotte Maxeke.”

This rallying call for action was made by the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga (pictured), in her speech to commemorate the life of Charlotte Maxeke, a woman she described as “a heroine” to all South Africans.

The University of the Free State (UFS), in conjunction with the Free State Premier’s office, presented the annual Charlotte Maxeke Memorial Lecture at the Main Campus in Bloemfontein to once again honour this remarkable African woman as part of celebrating Women’s Month.

“We must ensure that we act consciously to extend equal opportunities, freedom and justice to all women,” she said. “We must put all our energies together in this task of uplifting women and children.”

She said that even though women had made considerable strides since the advent of democracy in South Africa, especially in government, much still had to be done to ensure equal opportunities for all women.

“There’s a 40% women representation in government, but the question we should ask ourselves is: What value does this representation bring to the life of an ordinary woman? What impact does it have on her life?” she asked.

She said women were still less represented in managerial positions. “Sexism requires the same amount of energy that we use to fight against racism,” she said.

She also announced that the government had decided to declare the graves of Charlotte Maxeke, Lillian Ngoyi and Helen Joseph as national heritage sites.

The well-attended lecture was entitled: United in action to make 2010-2020 a decade for women in Africa.

Among those present were members of the ANC Women’s League, who came in buses and mini-buses; Dr Allan Boesak and his wife; past and present Free State MECs; and the Vice-Rector of External Relations at the UFS, Prof. Ezekiel Moraka.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za
6 August 2010

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