CMHA Grey Bruce is encouraging people to join the now annual Push-Up Challenge for mental health.
Don Vail, Communications and Fund Development Manager with CMHA Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addictions Services, says the goal of the challenge is about sparking conversations, raising awareness, and supporting mental wellness. He says at CMHA Grey Bruce, their goal daily is to bring hope, resilience, and support to those living with mental health struggles and addictions, and this challenge helps to do that.
"With this challenge, it's a way of getting people to talk about mental health, which is just as important as physical health. It's not about how many push-ups you do, either. It's about participating, it's about spreading the message and showing support," Vail enthused.
Vail adds there's no pressure to actually do 2,000 push-ups, and you can actually just pick a different exercise you like better like crunches, sit-ups, or squats. You can register to be part of the challenge by downloading an app that will give you reminders to do the exercise and give you interesting facts related to the number you're at.
"And the number that is mentioned, they'll give you a fact about mental health. An example, the 2,000 that's associated with the challenge, that is to represent the 2,000 people that die by suicide every day, worldwide," Vail explained.
Vails adds that again, the really important thing with the challenge is to encourage more awareness and ultimately conversations about mental health in the community. He says that many of the participants last year shared about their own struggles, which helps break down walls.
"The more we talk about it, there's less stigma around mental health. It was just a really neat atmosphere around the entire event last year so we knew that this year, it needed to happen again," said Vail. "Big picture, we just want you to be talking about your mental health, and to open up about it and also, if you're in need of help, to obviously seek it out."
The challenge this year begins February 11 and runs for 18 days.
In 2024, the first year of the challenge, CMHA Grey Bruce managed to raise $33,000 through over 350 people taking part in the challenge and raising money through sponsors. Nationally, the challenge has raised almost $300,000 so far.
To register for the challenge and get the app, visit https://www.thepushupchallenge.ca/home?lightbox=/register-select&utm_campaign=cmha-43. For more information on CMHA Grey Bruce and its programming, visit GreyBruce.CMHA.ca.