Aaron Binder

About My Challenge

Why did I join the The Push-Up Challenge in 2026?

Simple - it feels great and I think the Canadian Mental Health Association is worth supporting.

Right now, Canada lags behind our peers on mental health support. While countries like France (15%) and Germany (11%) prioritize mental health, Canada only spends an average of 6.3% of its healthcare budget on it. This creates a massive paradox in our care system.

When I was younger and financially unstable, I desperately needed a counselor but couldn't afford one. So I self-medicated with booze and pot - which only made things worse.

Now that I’m stable and can afford help, I actually need it less. We’ve built a system where access is often a privilege.

Here's why greater access for ALL is so important:

- 57% of people aged 18-24 who had early signs of mental illness said that cost was an obstacle to getting mental health services. 

 - People with the lowest incomes report having anxiety 2.4 times more often than those with the highest incomes.

Poor mental health is a personal struggle, but it’s also a barrier to everything else - personal growth, community, and career. Help me raise funds for the CMHA so we can make mental health support a foundation for everyone, not a luxury for the few.

Help me raise $1000 in February