HEADSPACE Mount Gambier has motivated several Limestone Coast residents to each complete 3318 push-ups and raise vital funds for local mental health services.
The annual Push-Up Challenge resulted in over $7000 raised for the local Headspace centre with participants getting involved over 25 days last month.
Across the nation 170,000 Australians of all ages aimed to complete the large number of push-ups which represented the lives lost to suicide in 2019.
Each day, participants completed their push-ups while learning about mental health, with the number of push-ups changing day to day to reflect a vital mental health statistic.
Now in its fifth year, the nationwide mental health event aims to bring people together to get fit, learn about mental health and help raise critical funds for mental health services in Australia.
Headspace Mount Gambier centre manager Tasja Barelds thanked those who helped raise the funds with 175 locals participating in this year’s event.
“Our centre is able to provide additional resources and support for better mental health to young people in our community,” Ms Barelds said.
Challenge founder Nick Hudson said the 2021 event exceeded all of his expectations, not expecting the event to turn into a nation-wide movement five years later.
“While mental health can be hard to talk about, it’s something that everyone is likely to encounter at least once in their lifetime,” he said.
“The more we normalise conversations about mental health and suicide, the more we can break down the stigma associated with mental ill-health and encourage those who need it to seek help early.”
