Mikayla Bowen urges people to sign up for Push-Up Challenge

Geelong AFLW star Mikayla Bowen, who knows the grief suicide causes heartbreakingly well, is on a mission to smash the stigma around mental health.

AFLW Cats star and Lifeline Australia ambassador Mikayla Bowen is helping raise awareness and drive registrations for the 2023 Push-Up Challenge. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Geelong AFLW star Mikayla Bowen is on a mission to smash the stigma around mental health.

Sadly, the 22-year-old knows the grief inflicted by suicide well.

“I’ve had a couple of close friends who have lost their life to suicide,” she said.

Bowen said this had heightened her desire to learn more about mental health and support people.

“I never want to go through that again,” she said.

Mikayla Bowen playing for the Cats. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“Being part of Geelong footy club I’m on a platform where I’m able to make change.”

Bowen, who moved to Geelong last year from West Coast, recently joined forces with Lifeline Australia as an ambassador.

She is encouraging locals to commit to tackling 3144 push-ups from June 1 to 23.

Sadly this is the number of Australians who lost their lives to suicide in 2021.

People can participate in The Push-Up Challenge solo or in a group, and raise money for mental health charities including Lifeline.

Bowen, who has participated in the challenge before and will take part again this year, urged people to “get into it”.

“Push-ups on their own are a challenge but doing them to challenge yourself and the stigma around mental health is really important,” she said.

Register at www.thepushupchallenge.com.au

If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Barwon Health mental health, drugs and alcohol triage on 1300 094 187.

Originally published as Mikayla Bowen urges people to sign up for Push-Up Challenge