Beau Carlson

Beau is taking on the 20-hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention.

My 20talk

I’m taking on the 20‑hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention — something I care about deeply.

To raise funds for 20Talk, I’ll be sitting in a 2‑metre square box for 20 hours with no technology, no talking, and nothing to distract me. Just a chair, a journal, and my own thoughts. It’s uncomfortable, confronting, and honestly a bit scary — but that’s exactly why I’m doing it. For too many young people, this kind of mental isolation isn’t a challenge… it’s their everyday reality.

Why this matters to me

Mental health doesn’t skip anyone. We all know someone who has struggled whether that’s a mate, a family member, someone we love. I’ve seen how heavy it can get, and I want to do something real that helps young people before they reach breaking point.

The stats speak for themselves:

• Suicide is still the leading cause of death for young people aged 15–44

• Only 2% of mental health funding goes toward prevention

• In 2023, death by suicide represented 31.8% of all deaths in young people ages 15-17 years

• On average, nine Australians die by suicide every day.

• The WHO predicts depression will be the worlds leading disease by 2030

That’s not enough.

That’s why I’m stepping up.

20Talk is one of the few organisations focused on prevention, not just crisis response. They make mental health education relatable, honest, and actually useful for young people — and that’s where your donation goes.

Your support genuinely makes a difference

• $120 puts one young person through a full‑day Mental Health Maintenance course

• Helps grow 20Talk’s online resources and their community of 60,000+ young people

• Supports large‑scale events that break stigma and start real conversations

Every donation — big or small — helps a young person learn how to look after their mental health before things get out of control. You’re not just giving money… you’re giving someone a chance to feel understood, supported, and less alone.

Thank you

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting the cause. This challenge will be tough, but if it helps even one young person feel seen or supported, then every minute is worth it.

We all carry things quietly at times, and I know how hard it can be to find the words. I hope this challenge helps remind people that reaching out is a strength, not a burden.

Love you all — and thank you again for your support.

In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to take on the challenge of sitting in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. This challenge will be a small look into the day of someone struggling with mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.

So why am I doing this?

We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting.

Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..

Suicide still remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-44.
Only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission 2022)

I'm completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk to turn these statistics around. Your contribution goes towards 20Talk's relatable prevention campaigns. They are a mental health charity that makes education cool and accessible, for young people by young people.

Your generous donations go towards:

Every $120 puts a young person through a one day Mental Health Maintenance cours
Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
Running large-scale interactive mental health events

By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for donating to the cause. Hopefully this small challenge can help change someone’s life.

If you ever need to chat, I’m always here. Love you all and thanks again!