20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.
I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge which will see me sitting in a 2×2 metre square in a warehouse, alongside 400 other participants, with no talking and no technology for 20 hours. All I’ll have are the essentials I bring with me: a chair, sleeping mat, journal, water, and food. No distractions.
This challenge is a small glimpse into the isolation and struggle that someone with mental health challenges might feel every day. I know it will be tough - physically, mentally, and emotionally - but it’s a challenge I’m taking on to stand in solidarity with those navigating these experiences.So why am I doing this?
We have all been touched in some way by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting.
Structurally, the statistics are still alarming:
- Suicide 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 Challenge to help 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 course
- Expanding 20Talk’s online resources and 60,000+ social media community
- Running large-scale interactive mental health events'
What is Mental Health Maintenance?
Mental Health Maintence (MHM) is a free, one-day workshop designed with industry experts to help individuals better understand and engage with different areas of their wellbeing, as well as learn effective ways to monitor them. MHM is designed to support people by equippig them with the knowledge and tools to maintai their mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point. By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking, this workshop hopes to prevent people from reaching crisis in the first place. To learn more, please visit www.20talk.com.au.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this 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!
Thank you to our Sponsors
$107
Christine Mark
$107
Ken Painter
$100
Taryn Hirst
This better not cause the demise of our snap streak!! Love you xx
$77
Mitchell Johnson
Good luck! You got this!
$56
Maureen Borgmeyer
Love from Aunty Maureen
$56
Michael Whitehill
Love Pop
$56
Larissa Richards
Well done I love that your doing this such a great cause ❤️
$56
Kerrie Rich
Worthy cause, love you 💖
$56
Jodie Arnup
Amazing, love it. You are a star!
$56
Kate Lafferty
$56
Sue Painter
I hope this helps a bit. Good luck not talking ha ha
$56
Margaret Moorhouse
$56
Emily Johnson
Good on you Shar! You’re a good egg, doing good things in the world xxxx
$56
M & A Johnson
$49
Anonymous
Amazing!
$45
Anonymous
Yay for MHM and Shar! 😊
$34
Kristy Dunlop
Great learning opportunity to support the cause and your capacity to help others. Hope it goes well
$30
Trevar Skillicorn-chilver
$29
Alana
We can do this!! BBT! 💕💕
$29
Alana
We can do this!! 💕💕
$29
Alana
We can do this!! 💕💕
$29
Kellie Matthews
Best of luck hitting your fundraising goal, and not talking for 20 hours!
$29
Anonymous
$29
Sharmian Whitehill
Let's do it!!!!!!! 💪🏆💕
$29
Killian Sharkey
You got this 😁!
$29
Sharmian Whitehill
Lets do it!!! 💕🏆💪
$29
Julie Couper
$29
Mel Jenkins
Well done and good luck. Great cause
$29
Lauren Maurizio
$29
Jodie Lennon
Go Shar. You’re awesome xx
$29
Sharmian Whitehill
WE GOT THIS!!!!
$29
Astra Robertson
Good luck ladies 🩷
$25
Fiona King
Thanks for undertaking this important project 🐞
$25
Emma Kemp
Good job Shar !
$25
Miranda Geyle
$25
Fiona King
What a fantastic and worthwhile cause 🫶
$25
Fiona King
Well done Alana- such a great cause! 🐞
$25
Fiona King
Such a great cause Jane, well done! 🐞
$24
Mitchell Boyle
Well done Sharmian such an amazing thing to do Good luck from mitch
$23
Lou
$20 for 20hours, I would love to give more but I hope this little bit helps you reach your goal ⭐️ very proud of you and wishing you all the best raising mental health awareness 💫
$12
Milissa Painter
$12
Mili
Let's do it!!
$12
Michelle Turner
Good luck Shar!
$12
Michelle Turner
Good luck Alana!
$12
Michelle Turner
Good luck Jane!
$12
Michelle Turner
Good luck Mili!
$12
Mili Painter
We can do it! 😉
$10
Shae Aarts
Good luck Shar, what a great cause! ❤️
$10
Shae Aarts
Good luck Alana, what a great cause! ❤️
$10
Shae Aarts
Good luck Mili, what a great cause! ❤️
$10
Shae Aarts
Good luck Jane, what a great cause! ❤️
$10
Your Favourite Oldest Daughter
Proud of you mum
