‘Hilarious’: Queensland Health commended for ‘it’s okay to poo at work’ campaign

One state government has been praised for its “hilarious” tackling of what’s still considered among many to be a taboo act: doing a poo at work.

Queensland Health has been commended for its “hilarious” tackling of what’s still considered among many to be a taboo act: doing a poo at work.

An Instagram video this month, featuring the statement “it’s okay to poo at work” over a montage of Lisa Frank images of dolphins, rainbows and unicorns set to Neick Sanders’ song Symphony, attracted 22,000 likes and thousands of comments.

A similar, albeit simpler, approach on Facebook – a post that read “Pooing at work. Discuss” – received an equally enthusiastic response, with more than 3000 comments and 5000 likes.

A post shared by Queensland Health to Instagram assuring its followers 'it's okay to poo at work'. Picture: Instagram

A post shared by Queensland Health to Instagram assuring its followers 'it's okay to poo at work'. Picture: Instagram

Both posts featured tips in the captions from Queensland Health on how to achieve a “stress-free public toilet poo” experience.

“Lots of people find it difficult to poo in public toilets. But we’re here to tell you it’s definitely okay to go number 2 at work!” the caption read.

“Consistently ignoring your need to poo can lead to stool getting stuck in your colon, haemorrhoids and other serious issues. So, it’s better to let it out than hold it in.

“If you find it extremely difficult to poo around other people, you might have parcopresis.

“Sometimes called ‘poo paranoia’, people with this condition have an overwhelming fear of being judged by others because of the sounds or smells associated with pooing. As a result, they may experience symptoms like increased heart rate, sweating or nausea.”

To alleviate poo paranoia or anxiety, the department suggested people “remember that everyone poops” and to “visualise someone famous on the toilet (like Taylor Swift)”.

Other recommendations included avoiding food or drink that “might trigger your bowels”, bringing a “small fragranced spray in the toilet with you” and to “breathe deeply or do a short meditation exercise”.

Facebook and Instagram users, as well as health and marketing experts, have praised the department’s “world leading” social media strategy, and for using humour to help normalise a healthy human behaviour.

“Really well done team. Just when I think it can’t get any better,” one Facebook user commented.

“QLD do sensational health updates!” another wrote.

A third agreed: “I love these qld health public health campaigns, they make me laugh.”

Over on Instagram, the comments shared the same sentiment: “Idk (I don’t know) who the dedicated Instagram person is for QLD health but my god, you are doing a great job and you need a pay rise.”

“This is hilarious,” another said.

“Did the government just put an image of Taylor Swift pooping in my brain?” someone else wrote.

’Just because something’s a serious topic doesn’t mean you can’t use humour to get into it.’

Founder and creative director of advertising agency Campaign Edge, Dee Madigan, described Queensland Health’s social media account as “world-leading”.

“What it shows is a department where the staff feel not scared to do stuff like this because often government departments’ social media is so safe, it’s actually just bland and boring,” she told The Guardian.

“It is actually a serious message, they’re just using social media in the correct way to deliver it.

“Just because something’s a serious topic doesn’t mean you can’t use humour to get into it.”

A Queensland Health spokesperson said the campaign “addressed a common but often unspoken health concern, aiming to normalise discussions around bodily functions”.

“Tackling what can often be considered as taboo health topics reduces shame, embarrassment and fear, while also helping to entertain, educate and promote healthier behaviours,” they said.