20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health
Hey, I'm Ajae!
I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge! What does that mean? It means I will be sitting in a 2×2 metre square in a warehouse, alongside 400 other participants - no talking, no reading and no technology for 20 hours. What I’ll bring with me? Only the following: a chair (maybe), sleeping mat (definitely), journal, water, and food. No distractions, no connections – just my thoughts.
This challenge is a small
glimpse into the isolation and struggle that someone with mental health
challenges might feel every day. Yes, 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. Youth and
kids will always have a special place in my heart. If you’re new here in my
life, I applied to work for DECYP – Tasmania back in 2024, and got accepted.
However, due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn’t able to push through.
I have always wanted to take part into mental health fundraising – but as you
might know, I am definitely not a runner! It takes me almost an hour to finish
a 5K on treadmill – what more on running events with outside factors (wind,
elevation, etc).
Number wise, 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 Maintenance (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 equipping
them with the knowledge and tools to maintain 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 here. I don’t really talk
much, but I’m definitely happy to listen! So much love and include me in your
prayers, bestie!
