{:en}#SunnySocks4Docs 2020{:}{:fr}#SunnySocks4Docs 2020{:}{:nl}#SunnySocks4Docs 2020{:}

On the 5th of June 2020, BeMSA hosted its #SunnySocks4Docs campaign once more. We encouraged doctors and healthcare workers to wear their most colourful socks in order to raise awareness about mental health issues that many healthcare workers are facing in Belgium, especially in these difficult times. Participants were requested to take a picture of their socks at work and post them on social media with the hashtag #SunnySocks4Docs.

Our goal was to raise awareness for mental health-issues in healthcare workers. We wanted to spark a nationwide discussion on the topic, break the stigma and taboo surrounding it, and let people having a hard time know that that they are not alone.

In the weeks leading up to the campaign, we posted teasers, infographics, and facts about mental health on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter profiles.

Cover photo explaining the idea of the campaign

Thank you!

The campaign was a great success! We want to thank everyone that participated, as well as our partners for helping to spread the word and reduce the stigma.

Make sure to take a look at our policy statement, as well as our mental health project Start To Talk.

The campaign will be back in 2021, so make sure to mark Friday the 4th of June 2021 in your calendars for another edition of #SunnySocks4Docs.

Testimonials

"Only 3 or 4 people know that I just spent a whole day crying for no apparent reason, because of exhaustion." Even our health care workers can suffer from mental health issues. That is why we would like to put our #SunnySocks4Docs campaign in the spotlight with testimonials.

During the campaign we shared five testimonials by medical students on our social media. You can click on the testimonials below to read them.

Infographics

In the week leading up to #SunnySocks4Docs on the 5th of June, we shared an infographic every day around the topic of mental health in healthcare professionals and students, with a special focus on the impact of COVID-19.

You can click on the infographics below to view them in a larger format.