Ashleigh La Cava

My Story + The Start of a Challenge

Hi Everyone ! 

It’s nice to meet ya. I’m Ashleigh but most people just call me Ash. A little bit about me before you understand why i’m choosing to do this challenge, I am currently in the process of choosing to do a Diploma of Counselling with the hopes of becoming a Therapist for young people and young adults. I’m a pretty passionate soccer fan but only for the matilda’s, I love exploring new places with melancholic music playing in the background and cracking dad jokes is a part time job for me. 

Now why i wanted to take on 20 Hours for 20Talk…

Ever since I was little I can remember struggling with my mental health and not just thinking what was happening was normal, but not understanding what was happening. Anxiety and Depression turned into self harm as a way to cope and eventually turning to suicidal ideation all before 15. Currently, I actively live with mental health challenges and sometimes have to fight myself to stay alive. I now want to fight for change for a generation who may be afraid they aren’t worth enough. Unfortunately, it still isn’t accessible to get help; appointments are too expensive and waitlists are six months plus, it’s not acceptable. Mental Health is just as important if not more important than physical health. 

I’m not just doing this for little me, i’m doing this for the younger versions of future adults who deserve accessible support, who deserve to feel heard and seen and who deserve to feel like life is worth it. 

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged from 15-44. 

Donating to 20Talk goes towards their prevention campaigns. They are a mental health charity that continues to make education accessible for young people by young people. Donations go towards putting a young person through the Mental Health Maintenance course and expansion of online resources and social media community. Also being able to run large scale mental health events. 

I would really appreciate you following me along in this journey and supporting 20Talk to better support Youth Mental Health. 

This will pass. 

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!