Move The Number: Your October Mental Health Month Challenge

The Mental Health Month Challenge is a free challenge in the Snap App that runs from 1 to 31 October 2026. Visit your Snap Fitness gym 11 times, complete 11 mental health boosters, and you're in the draw to win prizes, including a $500 gift card. Snap Fitness is also donating $5 from every membership sold in October to I Am Hope.

So, why 11? It's a number worth knowing. New Zealand's rate of suspected suicide was 11.0 per 100,000 people in the 2024/25 year, according to Health NZ. This October, we're giving you a simple way to do something about it. Eleven visits, eleven boosters, and every rep, step and conversation helps move the number.

How does the challenge work?

Pretty simply. Open the Snap App, join the challenge whenever you like (starting late is completely fine), and pop into your gym about every third day. Along the way, tick off 11 mental health boosters, which are small feel-good resets like a guided meditation on the bus, an article with your morning brew or a resource you save for later. No equipment, no prep, no pressure to be good at it. Just wrap it up by the end of 31 October and you're in.

All you need is an active Snap Fitness membership and the Snap App. Newbies, regulars and everyone in between are welcome, and nobody is checking your form. If you're new, step one is finding your nearest Snap Fitness gym and popping in. Congrats, that's visit number one.

What can you win?

Winners are drawn at random on 13 November 2026 and announced on the Snap Fitness New Zealand Facebook page. Up for grabs are a $500 gift card, an I Am Hope merch pack, a CALM 12-month subscription and a $200 Adidas voucher. Members aged 18 and over can enter, and terms and conditions apply, so have a look at the Mental Health Month Challenge page for the fine print.

Does exercise really help your mental health?

It can, and there's good research behind it. The Black Dog Institute says regular exercise can be an effective treatment by itself for mild depression, and that a brisk daily walk can help. A study of nearly 34,000 adults also found that even one hour a week offered significant protection against depression.

That said, exercise is one tool, not a replacement for professional support. If things feel heavy, have a chat with your GP or call 1737. And the best workout is the one you'll actually do, whether that's a lift, a lap of the block or a stretch in the lounge.

Who is I Am Hope?

I Am Hope is a not-for-profit mental health charity that's all about normalising the inner critic, that voice in our heads that has us second-guessing everything. Having a loud one isn't a sign of mental illness. It's a sign we're normal. This October, $5 from each membership sold supports their suicide prevention work for New Zealanders going through a personal crisis. You can donate directly or find out more about the partnership.

Ready to move the number? Join Snap Fitness this October, grab the Snap App and get your first visit on the board.

General information only, not medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling, free call or text 1737 any time, or call Lifeline on 0800 543 354. In an emergency, call 111.