oh my gosh, what have I done?
I'm not very good at sitting still. I'm completely out of practice at relaxing, self-care, meditation or any lack of stimulation... but I am quite good at accepting crazy challenges.
So it might surprise no one that I've accepted the challenge from 20Talk, a WA not-for-profit supporting youth mental health, to spend 20 hours alone in a 2m x 2m square.
No phone.
No laptop.
No podcasts.
No books (eek!)
No distractions.
Just a bed, a chair, a journal, a pen… and my own brain.
For TWENTY HOURS. 😳
The challenge is designed to raise funds and awareness for youth mental health, and I have two invitations for you.
1. Help me raise some money.
If this cause calls to you, I’d love you to consider donating via the link below.
And because I’m going to have rather a lot of uninterrupted thinking time on my hands, I want to make you an offer:
- Donate $20 or more and you can ask me any question you like. Perhaps something you’re wrestling with, or something you’re curious about. Something philosophical, ridiculous, personal or professional. Anything.
I’ll spend some of my 20 hours thinking about it properly and write you a postcard or letter with my response.
2. Help me work out what on earth I’m going to think about for 20 hours.
Give me your best journaling prompts (please!)
What question should I sit with when there’s nowhere to go, nothing to scroll, nothing to consume and nobody else to listen to?
What would you want to think about if someone gave you 20 uninterrupted hours with your own brain?
Send me the big questions. The weird questions. The uncomfortable questions. The ones that might take me somewhere unexpected.
Because while I’m genuinely excited about this, I’m also totally terrified.
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
$106.75
Nika Basiron
$55.95
James Hawkins
Well... 20 hours being unplugged sounds like a dream! Good on you for showing support for a great cause. Your question posed; what should I think about? I think your mind will take you to where you want to be and it will be enlightening. Good luck and don't forget that 'Chief of Staff' role is ready to go, once I find a job! x
$28.81
Tahlia
You are amazing!!!!
$28.81
Mary Maxwell
proud of you and wishing you luck this weekend. mum xx
$28.81
Debra Frost
$23.81
Babaganoush
You got this Chica
You can do this!🤩