Last Push For Mental Health As Challenge Nears Final Day

More than 25,000 New Zealanders are gearing up for the final push as The PushUp Challenge enters its last day tomorrow, Friday 27 February. 

Participants across the country have spent the past three weeks completing up to 2,000 pushups a target that reflects the number of people who die by suicide globally each day.

Collectively, New Zealand participants have so far banked over 17 million pushups and raised more than $742,000 for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHF). Tens of thousands more have taken part at the same time in Canada and the UK, making it one of the world’s fastestgrowing mental health and fitness events.

Auckland real estate agent Avinesh Prasad was a keen participant who wanted to help others experiencing mental health challenges. “I have been there before and can relate to what goes on in your head, the feeling of not being understood.” 

He says the Challenge has helped him prioritise his own wellbeing: “I have grown stronger physically and mentally and have become more resilient leading to less procrastination. It’s also started important conversations around mental health, and I’ve been able to remind people that I’m there for them if they need a chat.”

The Push-Up Challenge began in Australia in 2017. Founder Nick Hudson says he’s been blown away by how enthusiastically New Zealanders have accepted the challenge and pushed for better mental health.

“Our participants sparked thousands of conversations about mental health every single day of the Challenge, helping us improve Aotearoa's mental health literacy while also breaking down the stigma attached to mental illness. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The PushUp Challenge is free and open to all ages and abilities, with alternatives like situps, squats or lunges available for those who cannot complete traditional pushups. Each day’s target reflects a mental health statistic -for example, 150 pushups on day 23 (Friday 27 February) to highlight the recommended weekly 150 minutes of physical activity for better mental health. 
 

MHF Chief Executive Shaun Robinson says the funds raised by participants will be invested in three core areas of the charity’s mahi – promoting everyday actions that lift wellbeing, providing tools to support people through tough times, and advocating for a better mental health system and society.

“Campaigns like The Push-Up Challenge are a great way to get people thinking and talking about mental wellbeing – the more kōrero we have, the more we can teach people about the simple things they can do to look after their mental health, while also letting people know that it’s okay to ask for help,” says Shaun Robinson.

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