Feet first for mental health

CARDIOLOGIST Dr Geoffrey Toogood has been announced as a winner in the 2023 Australian Mental Health Prize.

Celebrating exceptional individuals who have made significant strides in the realm of mental health advocacy, the prize aims to acknowledge the invaluable work carried out by Australians in the field of mental health.

The Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, presented Toogood, of Frankston South, with the Lived Experienc award on Monday (25 September) during a ceremony at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

Toogood has triumphed over his own periods of mental illness, emerging with an unwavering mission: to destigmatise mental health discourse within the medical realm and spotlight the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.

Following in the wake of his own experiences, Toogood established the Crazy Socks 4 Docs movement. It’s cornerstone event, Crazysocks4docs Day, observed every first Friday of June, has ignited global recognition and participation.

Picture: Gary Sissons