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By Trey Smith

Pushing For Mental Health

CMHA Battlefords staff ready to take on push-up challenge

Jan 24, 2024 | 4:29 PM

Starting in February, the Battlefords’ Canadian Mental Health Association staff will participate in the push-up challenge by participating in the fitness initiative to pave the way for better mental health nationwide.

Created by Nick Hudson in Australia in 2017, the challenge tasks participants with 2,000 push-ups across 23 days to represent the 20 per cent of Canadians who might suffer from a mental illness.

“It’s become Australia’s biggest mental health and fitness event,” said Michele Winterholt, executive director of the Battlefords’ Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), “We’re fortunate that they have brought this event to Canada this year, and we are really excited to have everyone here push better for push-ups.”

The challenge is a free event to join, and fundraising is also an option. If an individual chooses to fundraise, all donations are made out to the CMHA.

With physical activity being a great outlet for people to improve their mental health, challenge helps focus on kick-starting a healthy habit that can become a part of individuals’ everyday lives.

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“Adding an element of physical activity in some way to be a part of your mental health strategies and journey is really important and is proven to be very beneficial in our mental health,” Winterholt said.

The winter months can be a difficult time for many people and their mental health. The winter blues is a common theme among people as the long, dark, and cold days can take a toll on an individual’s health.

February is one of the most difficult months for people to live in, as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a clinical condition that impacts two to three per cent of people living in Canada.

Although SAD only affects a tiny percentage of Canadians, about 15 per cent of people in Canada have said they experience symptoms of being sad or unhappy during the winter months. Fortunately, the whole point of The Push-Up Challenge is for people to get up, move their bodies, and improve their mental health.

All ages and abilities can participate in The Push-Up Challenge as there are many available alternatives such as sit-ups and squats. A dedicated app is also available where progress can also be tracked, and donations can be made.

“We’re looking for people in the Battlefords area to just participate in the challenge itself,” Winterholt says, “If you don’t hit the 2,000 mark, that’s OK, it’s just about creating the awareness.”

If The Push-Up Challenge sounds like a fun task for yourself, a team, or your workplace, visit www.thepushupchallenge.ca to get registered.