Locals to push-up for mental health

THIS June, Lifeline Geelong and South West Victoria is encouraging locals to push for better mental health by participating in mental health initiative, ‘The Push Up Challenge’.

From June 1 to 23, participants will be tasked with completing 3,144 push-ups across 23 days to put the spotlight on the number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2021.

The number of push-ups will change on each day of the month to reflect a different mental health fact.

 

Victorian Lifeline General Manager Jason Doherty hoped the challenge would embody fun, connection and physical and mental health education.

“More people than ever before are reaching out to Lifeline for help and support.

“The money raised through The Push-Up Challenge will support our services to be there for anyone, anytime, whatever the reason.”

Many local organisations are joining the collective effort this year to raise more awareness of mental health including Geelong leadership consultants and 2022 Geelong Business Excellence Awards finalist’s Think Strategic.

CEO Maxine Driscoll said the cause was one

close to her heart and one their local team was rapt to get behind.

“Sadly, I lost my brother to suicide… it has been a gut-wrenching time for our family.

“I’m committing to the Push-Up Challenge to help Lifeline provide the much-needed support for people like my brother.”

 

Driscoll’s team-mate and CEO of IT How To, Shane McIntosh also shared that he lost his best friend in primary school to mental health and cited that the “Push-Up Challenge [was] a great way to raise awareness and support Lifeline.”

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 at www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/beneficiary/lifeline-geelong-vic