Pushing for better mental health services

headspace Geelong and headspace Corio are encouraging the community to work out for mental health next month as part of The Push-Up Challenge.

The fundraiser is Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event, and sees hundreds of thousands of Australians take up the challenge each year.

Participants in 2024 will complete 3,249 push-ups across 24 days in June, representing the number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022.

Since 2017, The Push-Up Challenge has raised more than $40 million for mental health programs and services for headspace, Lifeline and The Push-Up Foundation.

“The Push-Up Challenge is a great opportunity for Australians to talk about their mental health, learn how to best support each other and recognise when they might need to put their own hand up for help,” headspace Geelong and Corio spokesperson Tenille Favazza said.

“We know The Push-Up Challenge is going to be a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to connecting with our local community throughout June.

“headspace is proud to be trusted by young people and their families in Geelong, and the funds raised through The Push-Up Challenge will help us continue to support their mental health and wellbeing.”

Between June 5 and June 28, participants of all ages and abilities will do push-ups while learning about mental health, with the number of daily push-ups changing to reflect a vital mental health fact.

Participants can also set their own push-up goal, which can also be done as sit-ups, squats or tailored exercises, with progress tracked through a dedicated app.

 

“By raising funds for headspace Geelong and Corio, you will be supporting young people in our community to lead mentally healthy and fulfilling lives,” Ms Favazza said.

“Donations to our centre directly support the young people we serve by enhancing our group programs, centre resources and youth-led initiatives.

“In particular, funds from the Push-Up Challenge will help our headspace Geelong Youth Futures Crew develop and organise a forum focused on combating mental health stigma among young men.

“This initiative will aim to support young men in the Geelong region and encourage those close to them to have supportive conversations about mental health and to seek help.”

Donations through The Push-Up Challenge will ensure Lifeline’s critical support services are accessible to anyone who needs them – anytime, anywhere.

Lifeline is available 24 hours a day to listen, without judgement, to any person in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing crisis or longs to be heard.

The Push-Up Challenge is a free event, and you can register as an individual, a team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym or school involved.

For more information, head to pushupchallenge.com.au

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, head to beyondblue.org.au or phone their 24/7 hotline on 1300 224 636. You can also head to lifeline.org.au or phone them on 13 11 14. Help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by phoning 1800 551 800, or by phoning headspace on 1800 650 890 or heading to headspace.org.au