Ballarat police have completed the annual push-up challenge to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
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Mental health support service Headspace's push-up challenge involved people pledging to complete 3046 push-ups between May 11 and May 31.
Each day, the target number of push-ups reflected a different Australian mental health statistic.
In total, people who took part in the challenge pledged to complete 3046 push-ups each - the number of Australians who took their lives in 2018.
About 40 Ballarat police members completed a total of 79,725 push-ups during the 21-day challenge, while also raising $3351 for Ballarat's Headspace branch.
Inspector Dan Davison said it was really important for police to showcase to the community that they care about mental health.
This is not only because mental health related calls are a big part of modern policing, but also because police members are not immune to mental illness.
Members of a range of ages and ranks participated in the challenge, which was developed not only to promote awareness of suicide in Australia, but also to encourage connection and positive mental health through exercise.
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Inspector Davison said while members' reasons for involvement were varied, the issue was one which inspired police to push themselves to their limits.
"It is important that we lead the way as mental health is such a huge part of everyone's lives. We see that on a daily basis," Inspector Davison said.
"I think the overall awareness of mental health has led to the members really seeing this as a great opportunity to push mental health awareness inside and outside of Victoria Police."
In recent years, Victoria Police has pinpointed a need to focus on the mental health of members.
There are now professional well-being services available to police, as well as peer support networks in place in stations across the state.
"We are starting to appreciate the importance of taking time out for our own mental health and putting structures in place to make sure we get through our often stressful job," Inspector Davison said.
"We are starting to turn it from a negative stigma into a positive - to really reach out and put your hand up if you need a hand or assistance in dealing with a mental health issue."
Inspector Davison said it was pleasing to see the team come together for the challenge and it was a "great achievement for a great cause". He said police were rapt to be able to support their local Headspace branch, with members knowing the money raised would be donated to a local provider which would be able to help the community and in turn, police.
"We wouldn't be able to deal with mental health issues in the community without quality stakeholders," Inspector Davison said.
Headspace Ballarat is available for 12-25 year olds as well as parental support. Contact 5304 4777