Push-ups for mental health

THIS month, Australians are pushing themselves to the limit to raise funds and awareness for mental health.

The Push-Up Challenge runs until 25 June, with registered participants aiming to complete 3318 push-ups.

Funds raised will go towards mental health and suicide prevention charities Headspace and Lifeline, and Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee executive officer Lisa Renato said she was pleased to a part of the challenge.

“This year Lifeline and Headspace, both working in suicide prevention space have secured being the beneficiary of the Pish-Up Challenge this year,” she said.

“Our particular centre which covers the Central Victoria and Mallee area are pushing up as much as we can this June to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention and mental health.”

Several groups have joined forces with Lifeline CVM, including AFS & Associates, F45, the staff Loddon Prison Precinct, Marong’s SES unit and the City of Greater Bendigo Active and Healthy team.

“I think I’ve got 20 teams in total made up of 143 people supporting our particular centre,” Ms Renato said.

Almost $4000 has been raised for Lifeline CVM, with money to be used to provide additional resources at the centre.

“That’s going to train an additional six volunteers to become accredited to answer calls via the national hotline we service out of Bendigo,” Ms Renato said.

“The more volunteers we can train the more calls we can answer, the more people we can help and more importantly the more lives we can save.”

Ms Renato said she’s seen a lot of peer-to-peer fundraising through challenges and events, with a big focus on raising awareness by making connections.

“A real trend in the not-for-profit space is connecting with their story, connecting with a shared experience and wanting to make a difference and I think the Push-Up Challenge does that,” she said.

“It opens up the channels for communication around mental health and that all of us, whether our mental health is strong or poor, we ebb and flow throughout our lifetime.”

Donate to the Push-Up Challenge and Lifeline CVM at lifelinecvm.org.au.