May 24, 2019
To help raise awareness about #CrazySocks4Docs this episode’s guest is Dr Geoff Toogood.
Geoff is a Cardiologist at Peninsula Health and in Private Practice in Melbourne, Australia. He is also a Board Member of South West Health Care, Ambassador for Beyond Blue and Ambassador for Masters Swimming Victoria. He is both a pool and open water swimmer, having competed at National and International level, using swimming for his mental wellbeing. Geoff has completed a relay across the English Channel, swum solo in the Rottnest Island swim and many other open water and pool swims.
Despite having a cardiologist on the show, this is mostly a talk about mental health, rather than cardiology. Geoff has had his share of mental health struggles, having had a period of anxiety early in his career and then more recently severe depression leading to suicidal ideation.
But most importantly, Geoff has used his story, told humbly and vulnerably, to create awareness about Doctors mental health and to break the stigma, through the CrazySocks4Docs movement, which you’ll hear about today.
All healthcare workers are at risk of mental health issues. They are more common than we realise. Mental health disorders can lead to burnout, divorce and suicide. We must talk more about this issue; so we can understand this, do things to help reduce the risk, and to help each other when we identify mental ill health in our colleagues.
If we talk about this as an industry, we will hopefully all be better off. We, ourselves. Our colleagues. And more importantly, our patients.
The conversation on this podcast covers:
Hearing about Geoff’s struggles, how he has dealt with them, and his ongoing advocacy, is more than helpful. It’s powerful.
Please enjoy listening to Geoff Toogood.
Andrew Davies
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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. I hope you’ll glean insights to help you improve as a healthcare professional and as a human being so you can make a truly valuable contribution to your patient’s lives.
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Links to people, organisations and other resources mentioned:
Geoff Toogood on Twitter: @gdtoogood
Crazy Socks For Docs on Twitter: @crazysocks4docs
Crazy Socks For Docs on Instagram: @crazysocks4docs
Crazy Socks For Docs on Facebook
Prof Michael Myers on Twitter: @downstatedoctor
Dr Kate Harding on Twitter: @katejh1970
Dr Yumiko (Miko) Kadota on Twitter: @mindbodymiko
Article 1 written by Geoff Toogood
Article 2 written by Geoff Toogood
Articles 3 & 4 written by Geoff Toogood
Article 1 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 2 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 3 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 4 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 5 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 6 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 7 written about Geoff Toogood
Article 8 written about Geoff Toogood
Video of talk by Geoff Toogood
Video of TV show featuring Geoff Toogood
New Normal Project podcast - Episode 53 with John Orchard
Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 32 with Kate Harding
Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 43 with Jo Stewart
Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook
Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane
Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66
Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66