Mr Met's 'inappropriate gesture' and the #CrazySocks4Docs initiative

The New York Mets have apologised after their mascot used a lewd gesture on Wednesday

A popular US mascot gives baseball fans the middle finger, and "crazy socks" in Australia shed light on mental health in the medical community.

'Inappropriate' Mr Met

Mascots are typically thought to bring luck, but baseball's Mr Met appears to have fallen short after his team, the New York Mets, lost 7-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers in New York on Wednesday.

Exiting the stadium after the game, one of America's most popular mascots gestured at a fan with his middle finger in a clip shared on Twitter.

Mr Met has been the official mascot for the New York Mets since 1962 and the costume is worn by more than one person every season.

The New York Mets have apologised for the "inappropriate" action of the employee, saying they were dealing with the matter "internally".

But social media users took a different stance, asking the mascot be given a raise.

"That was the coolest thing Mr Met has ever done," said journalist Eoin Higgins.

"This was the best thing that happened all year - give that man a raise!" another Twitter user continued.

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Shortly after the clip was uploaded, it was also turned into a gif, with a sports blogger adding: "I need Mr Met flipping the bird in gif form and I will use it in perpetuity forever and ever."

But several users questioned Mr Met flipping a "non-existent" middle finger, citing the mascot's four digits - a thumb and three fingers.

Early last month, the Mets tweeted a photo of one of its players in a locker room that unknowingly had a huge sex toy in the background.

Mr Met's gesture on Wednesday isn't the first instance of a sports mascot going rogue.

In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks' mascot - a live hawk - left its handler and landed on a fan's head.

In 2010, the Cincinnati Bearcat mascot was arrested for throwing snowballs at people.

And in 2001, Robbie the Bobby, mascot for Bury Football Club, was sent off for mooning Stoke City fans.

#CrazySocks4Docs: Promoting mental health in the medical community

Images of medical professionals in funky socks are being shared to create awareness over mental health

Healthcare professionals in Australia wore funky or mismatching socks to work on Thursday to promote good mental health among the medical community.

The initiative started online in Melbourne by cardiologist Dr Geoff Toogood and ENT surgeon Dr Eric Levi.

It focused on helping create awareness on suicide among physicians in Australia.

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare industry specialists posted images from their workplace to Facebook and Twitter of them joining in on #CrazySocks4Docs.

"We need to care for those who care for us," Australian MP Catherine King tweeted.

One surgery fellow in Adelaide snapped an image of his socks while "waiting for my first patient in theatre" and a Sydney-based doctor called on people to take part: "Doctors are people too. We get stressed, depressed and even wear odd socks!"

Several health professionals tweeted images of their "crazy socks"

One user shared an image of his wife's Superman socks while at her work in a Melbourne hospital, captioned: "We are human doctors, not superheroes...seek help if you are not OK."

"Health professionals aren't superheroes all the time, most of us have had mental difficulties - needs to be normal for us to talk," anaesthetist Stu Marshall continued.

Some took to Facebook to show their team support for the initiative

Teams at the Australian Medical Association (Victoria) and the Australian Doctor publication posted images to Facebook showing their support.

The initiative was not limited to Australia with people showing their support for health professionals around the world

While one team in Sydney showed "some leg for health professionals worldwide," healthcare professionals elsewhere in the world, including in the UK and the US, have also joined in online.

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by mental health issues, here (UK) and here (Australia) are some organisations that may be able to help.

By the UGC and Social News team