Let's break the silence
Entering your 20s can both be one of the most exciting and hardest transitions. "Enjoy your 20s, it will be over before you know it!" is all we ever hear - it's glorified to be this amazingly exciting period of your life. It definitely can be and has been one of the most exciting periods of growth, learning and adventure in my life, but it also marks a huge period of change. In your twenties you're expected to both "make the most of it", to have fun, dream big, travel and explore, but you're also expected to lay the foundations for a brighter future - save money to buy a house, study, find full time work, find a lifelong partner, etc. It can be empowering and invigorating or completely overwhelming and all consuming.Despite our twenties being a very exciting period of life, statistics also tell us that rates of depression and anxiety sore in this time. Young people, particularly those aged 16-24, are more vulnerable to mental health issues than other age groups. This is evident from higher rates of mental health disorders and psychological distress observed in this age group, compare to other age brackets (ABS, AIHW). In fact, 2 in 5 young adults (16-24) have reported a 12 month period of poor mental health (ABS, NIH). Despite the high prevalence, young adults face significant barriers in accessing mental health support, stemming from a lack of awareness about available resources, a lack of age appropriate/relevant resources and persistent stigma around mental health (ABS, QFCC). This can lead to a reluctance to seek help, even when experiencing significant distress.
I consider myself very fortunate and privileged to have grown up in a home where discussions about our emotions and challenges we faced with our mental health was never taboo. My parents raised me in a safe environment where I always knew I had someone to talk to. Yet even I felt the weight of silence that existed amongst my same aged peers when it came to discussing experiences of depression and anxiety. The silence can be deafening - particularly for those who have no space they feel they can safely turn to for help.
I'm participating in 20 Hours of silence with 20Talk to bring awareness of this silence and ultimately to play my part in helping to break it. Please partner with me to help bring awareness to the help that is out there. No one needs to be alone. Let's break the silence together.
