In May, people from across the country will take part in Youthline's 'Walk the Talk' campaign, exercising for at least half an hour every day.
Canterbury ambassadors from the New Zealand Rose of Tralee competition are participating. Their organization honors women of Irish descent around the world.
Contestant Keely O'Grady said so far she is enjoying the challenge.
“I think it's a really fun way to advocate for mental health and raise money while getting out there and being productive and raising awareness”
Daily exercise is not limited to just walking; some participants choose other forms of fitness, such as running, cycling or even dancing.
The minimum daily session for the campaign is 31 minutes, which represents the average time a young person experiencing a mental health crisis spends on the phone with Youthline.
Participant Whitney Burfield-Tatofi feels good about contributing to the campaign.
“To know that 31 minutes of my day can make a difference in someone else's life, I mean it makes everything worth it.”
These two women believe there is still room for improvement in the way mental health is managed. O'Grady said people need to stop talking about it only behind closed doors.
“Everyone is very open about their physical health. You know, you're sick, you're not coming to work today and I think mental health should be looked at in the same way.”
The fitness challenge that makes a difference is teaching them the importance of spreading awareness and advocating for what they believe in, especially when it comes to New Zealand's youth.
Link to donate to NZ Rose of Tralee participants: https://www.walkthetalk.nz/t/nzroseoftralee
– By Emily O'Hagan, created with support from NZ On Air