Over 100 people are due to take a chilly plunge with a bungy cord attached in support of mental health recovery and services on Vancouver Island. (Edward Nathanson/WildPlay Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

BUFF BUNGY

‘Everyone wants to naked bungy until it’s time to naked bungy:’ bare bums battle mental health stigma

Mar 7, 2021 | 6:06 AM

NANAIMO — Those dealing with mental health challenges are being encouraged to bare all, figuratively and literally.

The 15th annual naked bungy fundraiser at WildPlay Nanaimo began Saturday, March 6 and continues Sunday, March 7 in support of Mental Health Recovery Partners on Vancouver Island.

Multi-year jumper Corey Adams told NanaimoNewsNOW while fully clothed, any opportunity to bring the conversation surrounding mental health further into the light is a good thing.

“I like any excuse to get naked and jumping off high things makes it that much funner. It was something I wanted to do for years [with friends] and every year I try to come, everyone bails. Everyone wants to naked bungy until it’s time to naked bungy.”

It’s the 15th year for the fundraiser with between 120 and 140 jumpers expected to take the plunge over the two days.

vehicle damage

Over 40 vehicles damaged during late-night Nanaimo vandalism spree

47m ago

rising costs

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

5h ago

new mayor

Spring Mayoral by-election called in Ladysmith

18h ago

Being fully exposed and dealing with the topic of mental health full on can be a healing and cathartic experience, according to Adams.

“It helps them go and seek treatment rather than just pushing it aside and pretend it’s not there. It strips the stigma away from it and lets people be more open and upfront about it.”

Adams added he and many of his friends deal with mental health challenges and the stigma surrounding mental health often means issues get left untreated.

Stewart Scholz, core services director at WildPlay, said they normally get around 180 jumpers however jump times are more spread out this year because of the pandemic.

People can pay to take the dip but the idea is to fundraiser your way to the top.

“When you fundraise over $200, you jump for free. We had some people come in earlier, they’d only heard about the event 40 hours ago and had already fundraised $1,000.”

He added the jump is a very freeing experience and brings people with similar obstacles together.

“I don’t think anyone’s quite sure what to expect when they come to their first naked bungee jump. When you start talking to people you hear some really cool stories and they’re jumping for friends they’ve lost or friends who are struggling…everyone finds their own reason to jump.”

The idea of a free bungy jump started as a Valentine’s Day promotion, before eventually morphing into a fundraiser for mental health.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley