AVA ROBINSON

AVA is taking on the 20-hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention.

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.

Sometimes we move through life without really stopping — distracting ourselves, staying busy, filling every quiet moment.

This challenge is a chance to do the opposite: to sit in stillness, with no distractions, and just be.

For most of us, it’s something we can step in and out of whenever we choose.

But for some people, that feeling of isolation isn’t a choice — it’s something they live with every day.

That’s why I’ve chosen to take part in this challenge. Not because I think 20 hours can replicate what anyone goes through, but because it’s a small act of choosing discomfort, isolation, stillness, and reflection — in solidarity with those who don’t get to opt out.

Over the years, I’ve both struggled with my own mental health and witnessed some of the closest people in my life go through battles that often feel invisible to the outside world.

I’ve come to know how important it is to feel seen and supported — even in the smallest ways.

That’s why I’m doing this.

Because the reality is still pretty confronting: suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15–44, and only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission, 2022).

The money raised goes towards 20Talk’s prevention work — making support more accessible, relatable, and less intimidating for young people through workshops, resources, and community before things reach crisis point.

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If you feel called to donate, it would genuinely mean so much — every little bit helps. And if not, even just taking a moment to read this or check in on someone you love matters more than you think!!!

Thank you for being here 🐟 All my love, light and warmth to you,

Ava Robinson xx