Event makes push-up to promote mental health across district

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The Canadian Mental Health Association North Bay and District is literally pushing for better mental health with The Push-Up Challenge this month.

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Nipissing University staff and some students joined them on Tuesday morning in kicking off the fundraiser with a group fitness event on campus.

A few brave souls, including Nipissing University President Kevin Wamsley, did pushups (some did squats) on the gym floor at the shared Nipissing University/Canadore College facility.

Staff, students, and representatives from CMHA North Bay and District worked together and encouraged each other to reach the day one push-up goal of 92.

“The Push-Up Challenge encourages physical and mental health in a fun way that also puts a spotlight on the support needed for essential services in the community,” said Mary Davis, chief executive officer of CMHA North Bay and District.

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“Everyone has mental health. One in five Canadians will face a mental health concern in their lifetime. The funds raised by participants will help some of our service users with extraordinary needs related to their journey to better mental health, and this year, we’re looking to double our impact. Let’s all push for stronger mental health and to reduce stigma around mental illness.”

Nicole Brenne, the communications coordinator of the North Bay branch of the CMHA, added, “The Push-Up challenge actually started in Australia. It ties physical and mental health together.”

Brenne was on hand at the gym, along with several other CMHA staffers.

“The 2,000 push-ups represent the number of lives lost to suicide world-wide each day,” Brenne said. “Last year was the first year the challenge came to Canada.”

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There is also an explanation why the goal was set at specifically 92 push-ups.

“92 percent of Canadians that feel that going outside and going outside into nature is beneficially to their mental health,” Brenne said, acknowledging with a smile that Tuesday’s weather was very conducive to doing the event indoors.

Mary Montgomery, the CMHA’s chief operating officer in North Bay, commented on the serious and profound impact mental health has on practically every Canadian.

Reaching out for help is the key in her opinion.

“It is okay to not be okay,” she said. “It is okay to be struggling with your mental health. It is okay to ask and need support. It is important to ask for support. You are actually giving people a ‘gift.’ When somebody asks you for support, it is a gift they are giving you. It is their trust.”

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Malinda Hirvilammi is the CMHA’s health promotions coordinator.

“This is a fundraiser, but it is also a mental health and suicide prevention awareness event,” she said. “It is very important to get people to talk about mental health. We need to reduce the stigma around mental health.”

Hirvilammi added Nipissing University reached out to the CMHA to host a push-up event.

“They wanted to promote this event at their school for faculty and staff and they asked us to come up for the first day of the event,” she said.

That mission was accomplished, with others to follow.

(Catch up on what is happening throughout the North Bay area with our noon-hour roundup. Click here to sign up for the free newsletter which will be delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

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