Maritime Veterans Unite for Push-Up Challenge to Boost Mental Health

A group of maritime veterans and their team at Royal LePage are tackling a formidable challenge this month as they participate in the Push-Up Challenge, aimed at raising both funds and awareness for mental health. The initiative requires participants to complete a staggering 2,000 push-ups in 23 days. Justin Thomas, one of the participants, humorously acknowledged the difficulty, stating, “2000 push-ups is the hardest part.”

Mike Bebee, alongside Thomas, is participating in the challenge for the second consecutive year. Bebee explained their motivation: “Trying to raise awareness, we started the mental health challenge, with a team of people that I work with.” He emphasized the widespread impact of mental health issues, noting, “A lot of people are affected by mental health, or at least know someone that is.”

Bebee has personal experience with mental health challenges, especially after his military service. Initially believing his struggles were physical, he underwent testing that revealed deeper mental health issues. “I learned in a really short amount of time that one of the most important ways to deal with keeping up your mental health is by staying physically active,” he shared. This connection between physical and mental health drew him to the push-up challenge.

Raising Awareness Through Action

The military environment often discourages open discussions about mental health, with Bebee explaining, “When I was in the military, if you talked about having mental health issues, that meant you were kind of putting your promotions or any advancement on hold.” For a long time, he avoided addressing his mental health, leading to struggles that affected both him and his family.

Becoming a voice for mental health awareness is as crucial as the funds raised, according to Beverly Cadham, Co-Branch Manager of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Halifax-Dartmouth branch. She highlighted the importance of donations to grassroots organizations, stating, “Mike is sort of like leading in showing that donations that you make to non-profit organizations in our community are really important.”

Funds raised through the challenge support programs, including music therapy and group sessions, which aim to ensure that individuals do not feel isolated in their struggles. Erin Christie from the CMHA district office reported that 1,657 participants have raised $104,000 so far, benefiting approximately 10,000 Nova Scotians annually.

Christie poignantly shared her personal connection to the cause, stating, “For me personally, I lost my son Seamus in 2017 to suicide. So talking about Mike speaking out, I also take that approach when it comes to suicide prevention.” She underscored the importance of open discussions around mental health: “It is okay to talk about. That’s the most important thing.”

Thomas echoed this sentiment, advocating for more open conversations about mental health. “Mental health always gets kind of sheltered, and you shouldn’t talk about your feelings,” he remarked. “I think it’s something that should be addressed more.”

As of 17:00 on Thursday, Bebee had completed 1,780 push-ups and raised $2,645 of his $5,000 goal. The initiative not only highlights the physical challenge but also serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health advocacy within communities. The support and engagement from participants reflect a growing commitment to addressing mental health issues head-on.