Camilo

20 Hours With Myself

On September 5th, I’ll be taking on a challenge that means much more to me than simply spending 20 hours in silence.

No phone. No talking. No distractions. Just a 2×2 metre space, my journal, water… and myself.

I’ve also decided to complete the 20 hours while fasting. This is my personal choice and an opportunity to challenge myself physically and mentally, practise discipline and discover how my training and preparation support me when things become uncomfortable.

But this journey is about something bigger than my own challenge.

I believe we spend a lot of time learning how to improve what is around us, but sometimes very little time learning how to understand what is happening inside us.

That is why mental education means so much to me.

For me, educating the mind means learning to listen to ourselves, dedicating quality time to ourselves, understanding our emotions, building discipline and knowing when to ask for support.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing this journey as I prepare for the challenge and work towards raising $1,000 for 20Talk.

This is only the beginning.

20 hours. No distractions. Just me and my mind. 🧠🔥

20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.

20 Hours for 20Talk – My Challenge for Mental Health Education

On 5 September 2026, I’ll be taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge in Perth.

For 20 hours, I’ll sit inside a 2×2 metre square, alongside around 400 other participants, with no talking, no technology and no distractions.

All I’ll have with me are the essentials: a chair, a sleeping mat, my journal and water.

I’ve also decided to fast throughout the 20 hours, taking the challenge one step further and putting myself to the test physically and mentally. For me, this is an opportunity to challenge myself, practise discipline and discover how the preparation and training I’ve been doing can support me when facing difficult moments.

For me, this challenge is much more than simply spending 20 hours in silence. I’ve decided to combine the experience with fasting, making it a personal test of discipline, resilience and self-awareness.

I believe that mental education is something we should practise, not just talk about.

Just as we train our bodies, I believe we also need to learn how to train, understand and take care of our minds — learning to listen to ourselves, understand what we feel, dedicate time to ourselves and recognise when we need support.

This challenge will give me a small glimpse into the isolation, silence and struggle that someone experiencing mental health challenges may face. I know it will be physically, mentally and emotionally challenging, but that is exactly why I want to do it.

I want to step outside my comfort zone, create awareness and stand in solidarity with people who may be going through difficult moments silently.

Why am I doing this?

Mental health affects all of us in some way.

It can be dark, lonely and confronting, and despite the progress being made, there is still a huge need for education, prevention and early support.

I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge to help support 20Talk’s work in making mental health education more accessible and relatable for young people.

Your donation will help support:

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

What is Mental Health Maintenance?

Mental Health Maintenance (MHM) is a free, one-day workshop designed with industry experts to help individuals better understand different areas of their wellbeing and learn effective ways to monitor them.

The workshop aims to provide people with the knowledge and tools to maintain their mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point, while improving mental health literacy, reducing harmful stigma and encouraging professional help-seeking.

If you’d like to learn more about 20Talk, please visit 20talk.com.au.

How can you help?

If this message resonates with you, you can support my challenge by making a donation — no matter how big or small.

You’re not just helping me reach a fundraising goal.

You’re helping make mental health education more accessible to someone who may need it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for being part of this journey.

Let’s make mental health education something we practise, not something we only talk about. 🧠❤️

!