My ‘Why’.
For those who know, poor mental health is a struggle I know all too well. Over the years, I have dealt with an abundance of mental health issues, and thankfully have been fortunate enough to receive professional and social support when I’ve needed it.
20Talk is a platform to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health. Founded by young people, for young people, 20Talk was born out of a deep personal commitment to tackle the growing mental health crisis.
Their mission is simple yet urgent: to normalise conversations around mental health and provide the tools young Australians need to thrive. With 98% of mental health funding going to crisis intervention and only 2% to prevention, we’re here to change the narrative by focusing on proactive, relatable, and accessible support.
Whilst crisis intervention is something that has probably saved my life more times than I’d like to admit, prevention is something that I think needs more attention. Coming into my adulthood, preventing poor mental health as best I can is becoming evermore important, to be able to maintain my connections, career and self worth.
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 my Sponsors
$100
Anonymous
$100
Emma & Jack
$55.95
Sharon Preston
Love you
$50
Anonymous
$50
Grace Fraser
$44.34
Nicholas Szalay
Havent talked to you in a good decade but good on you for doing this.
$28.81
Caitlyn Arkell
$28.81
Ally Whitford
$28.81
Joseph Reid
$28.81
Lyn Whitford
$25
Denvah
So bloody proud of you. Xx
$23.81
Jaz
$2.99
Zoe
Love you ally, you’ve always been an inspiration, I’m glad in life I got to live down the street from you an see you be the bad a$$ you’ve always been, you have been through so much more than anyone your age should have gone through keep being a beacon of light Mental health is no joke an I’m sure you’ve experienced it all first hand You’re a super star
