Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge, demonstrates its remarkable impact on participants, as revealed by a recent study conducted by The University of Melbourne. The findings, based on evaluations before and after the 2024 Challenge, underscore the transformative power of movement and community in fostering mental wellbeing.
The study examined the event’s effects on mental health, physical activity, social connectedness, and mental health literacy. Participants reported significant improvements in mental wellbeing, resilience, and social connection. For individuals facing mental health challenges, the event was particularly impactful, with noticeable reductions in the severity of depression and anxiety—benefits that extended even three months post-event.
The Challenge encouraged participants to take proactive steps for their mental health. Those with mental health concerns were more than twice as likely to seek help following the event, turning to health professionals, loved ones, or digital support groups. Additionally, participants adopted self-care strategies such as exercising, spending time in nature, and connecting with friends or pets, with these positive habits persisting long after the event.
Physical activity also surged among participants, along with a shift in attitudes towards exercise. The Push-Up Challenge proved effective in engaging individuals across all ages and genders, notably reaching men, who are often less likely to engage with mental health initiatives.
Professor Nicola Reavley of The University of Melbourne highlighted the Challenge's unique role in improving mental and physical wellbeing: “Our evaluation shows that The Push-Up Challenge is having an impact on mental and physical wellbeing across all ages and genders, and is particularly effective in engaging men, who can be harder to reach. The Challenge’s unique mix of exercise and mental health awareness provides valuable opportunities to build resilience, strengthen social connections, and support long-term healthy habits,"
Nick Hudson, Founder and CEO of The Push-Up Challenge, expressed his gratitude and excitement: “The Push-Up Challenge team works tirelessly to run the best event we possibly can, because we’ve always believed that community and physical activity can have a huge impact on mental wellbeing. Seeing the University of Melbourne evaluation findings are validating, humbling and motivating. Whether you’ve participated in the Challenge before, donated, shared a social media post or referred us to a friend, you’ll know that The Push-Up Challenge is about so much more than push-ups: it’s about feeling good and becoming that little bit better at understanding ourselves both mentally and physically.”
With its 2025 event set to run from 4 to 26 June, The Push-Up Challenge invites Australians to take on 3,214 push-ups, a poignant nod to the lives lost to suicide in 2023. Participants receive daily mental health tips and can choose to fundraise for charitable partners Lifeline and headspace, or The Push for Better Foundation, the charity that runs the event.
In 2024, over 218,000 participants completed an incredible 317 million push-ups, raising over $12 million for mental health causes. The initiative’s reach has also extended internationally, with The Push-Up Challenge Canada raising over $4.3 million in its February 2025 event, the second year that it ran in Canada.
Nick Hudson added, “We’re so grateful to Aussies everywhere for getting behind us the past eight years. And if you’ve never participated before, maybe 2025 is your year!”
