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 someone with mental health challenges might feel every day, and I’m doing it to stand in solidarity with those navigating it.
Why this one matters to me
This cause is close to my heart. I’ve always loved working with young people, whether through teaching, coaching, or the harm reduction and peer support work I facilitate now. I’ve also recently taken the leap into a Master of Social Work. Everything I’ve learnt tells me the same thing - change starts with education and connection, and young people deserve to know it’s not weak to speak. That’s exactly what 20Talk does.
It’s personal, too. I have had my own journey with my mental health, and this challenge is going to put the work I’ve done to the test. For a long time, distraction and avoidance were how I coped. I’m still a work in progress, but I’ve worked really hard to overcome some pretty tough challenges to get here. I’m so grateful for my supports, and I want young people to have that too.
These days I’m genuinely comfortable in my own company, and I can slow down, be present and sit with discomfort. It feels fitting that my 4-year soberversary will land not long after the challenge.
Will 20 hours in a 2x2m square, with no talking and no distractions, be hard? Of course. But am I better placed to do it now than I’ve ever been? Absolutely.
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).
Your donation helps turn these statistics around through 20Talk’s relatable prevention campaigns. 20Talk is a mental health charity that makes education cool and accessible, for young people by young people. 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. 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.
If you ever need to chat, I’m always here. Love you all and thanks again!
Proud of you, and thank you for everything that you do.