CMHA of New Brunswick Pushing for Mental Health Awareness and Hoping to Raise Important Funds.

Feb 6, 2025

FREDERICTON, NB – This February, the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick (CMHANB) is encouraging all New Brunswickers to push for better mental health by participating in the fitness-based mental health initiative, The Push-Up Challenge. 

The Push-Up Challenge involves participants doing 2,000 push-ups, representing the 2,000 lives lost to suicide each day worldwide. The event begins on February 11^th and runs for 18 days. 

Canadians of all ages and walks of life will participate in the event, which engages people in mental health through connection, physical activity, and education. 

“The Push-Up Challenge is a great way for the people of New Brunswick to enhance their fitness, connect with their community and do something positive for their mental health, all while supporting New Brunswickers who experience mental illness each year,” says, Christa Baldwin, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick.

“Everyone has mental health and it’s likely we all will experience a mental health issue at some point in our lives. By pushing up and learning about mental health, we hope to break down the stigma attached to mental illness so that people don’t think twice about reaching out for help.” 

The Push-Up Challenge is a free event, and fundraising is optional. Participants can choose to fundraise and support their local Canadian Mental Health Association. Participants of all ages and abilities will push-up while learning about mental health, with the number of daily push-ups changing to reflect a vital mental health fact. Alternatives to push-ups are also encouraged, such as sit-ups, squats or other alternative exercises. Progress can be tracked through a dedicated app which also allows you to easily fundraise and see how your mates are going with the event.  Feel free to challenge your friends, your co-workers or even highlight a friendly rivalry in our community. This event helps everyone’s mental health.

CMHANB has always been a promoter of mental health literacy in the communities we serve.   It is encouraging to see that the stigma around mental health and illness is decreasing.  School-based mental health promotion, suicide prevention training and psychological health and safety in the workplace has created the opportunity for people to be curious and not judgemental, empathic rather than sympathetic and practicing healthy coping strategies rather than avoidance.

2025 marks the second time the event will take place in Canada, run by the Canadian Mental Health Association. Last year saw over 49,000 Canadians challenge themselves to complete 2,000 push-ups and raise an incredible $2.4 million dollars across the country. 

You can register for The Push-Up Challenge as an individual, a team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym or school involved at: pushupchallenge_New Brunswick

About the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick:
CMHA NB is the non-profit provincial leader and champion for mental health. We are part of a national federation that provides advocacy, programs, and resources that help prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all New Brunswickers to flourish and thrive. Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health federation in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province and the Yukon. For more information, please visit www.cmhanb.ca.

About The Push-Up Challenge:
Founded in Australia in 2017, The Push-Up Challenge began as a challenge between four friends and has grown to become Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event. 2025 is The Push-Up Challenge’s second year in Canada, where individuals will complete 2,000 push-ups over 18 days in February to raise awareness about mental health. The Push-Up Challenge is a fun way for Canadians to connect with one another, get fit, and learn about mental health, with participants encouraged to raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association. The event is free to take part in and runs from 11-28 February 2025. For more information and to register, visit www.thepushupchallenge.ca