Michaela has been supporting Lifeline and taking part in The Push-Up Challenge since 2020. After losing her Uncle to suicide in 2010 and knowing how much the loss affected her family, Michaela has really valued the work of Lifeline and their goal to ensure that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.
"For as long as I live, I will never forget the night when my Nan called to tell us my Uncle Steve had died by suicide. From that day, my family was fractured; a piece of us missing. ”
Michaela was just 18 years old at the time, and no stranger to depression and poor mental health herself, having dealt with some pretty dark thoughts and feelings throughout her teenage years and vividly remembers how lonely she felt in those days.
“In the months that followed, I watched the effects of grief and devastation ripple through each of my family members. Steve's death was a complete shock to all of us, and to everyone who knew him. I have since learned that it is sadly not uncommon for there to seemingly be no "signs" that such a tragedy is about to occur.”
It was in the midst of Covid and lockdowns in 2020 that Michaela first saw ads for The Push-Up Challenge and felt compelled to sign up.
"With news reports of how isolated so many people felt, I knew I had to do the best I could to raise money for Lifeline whose main goal is to ensure that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.
"I have participated every year since. I really respect that the challenge honours those who have lost their lives to suicide with the number of push ups representing each of them; even though I don't know those people I think about them, their friends and their families, with every single push up.
“I love the way that The Push Up Challenge educates and starts real conversations - that there is an emphasis on participants doing the best that they can, and that I can use my love of push-ups for good.”
Michaela believes that raising awareness for mental health is an important part of challenging the stigma and encouraging others to reach out.
"I don't want anyone else to feel the pain that my Uncle must have been feeling, or to feel the pain that me and my family went through after his death. I don't want anyone to feel alone or like they have no where to turn to in their darkest moments.”
“I work as a lawyer, and there is research evidence that the legal profession has a significantly high prevalence of mental health and wellbeing issues, with more than half of solicitors reporting they have experienced depression. It matters to me that my colleagues are happy and healthy, and that resources like Lifeline exist if they ever need to use them."
As the top fundraiser for Lifeline in 2023, Michaela has a key piece of advice.
"You need to be noisy. Tell everyone you know that you are doing the challenge, why you are doing it (if you are able to, and comfortable with doing so), and what it means to you. I felt incredibly honoured last year to have so many of my friends, family and colleagues sponsor me, donate to my page, and reach out to me and share their stories, and experiences.”
Every 30 seconds, a person in Australia reaches out to Lifeline for help. Lifeline is available 24 hours a day to listen, without judgement, to any person in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing crisis or longs to be heard.
If you or someone you know needs crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or text on 0477 13 11 14.
