On 28 June, I’ll be sitting in a 2×2 metre square for 20 hours — in complete silence.

No phone. No music. No talking. No distractions. Just a chair, a sleeping mat, food, water… and my own thoughts.

I’m doing this as part of the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge, alongside 400 others, to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health. I know this challenge will be uncomfortable — and that’s exactly why I chose to do it.

Because this is something that hits close to home.

I grew up in an Asian culture where mental health wasn’t really talked about. You were expected to stay strong, work hard, and just keep moving forward — no matter how you felt. Feelings were often pushed aside, and struggling emotionally was something you dealt with quietly.

When I moved to Australia 11 years ago, I left behind everything — my family, my friends — to start a completely new life. I told myself I could handle it all on my own.

But there were moments I felt completely lost and alone. I doubted myself more than I’d like to admit.

Then one day, during a particularly hard time, my English teacher pulled me aside after class and asked me a simple question:

“Bella, are you okay? You don’t seem like your usual self.”

That small moment meant more than she probably realised.

It stuck with me. It opened up a conversation I didn’t even know I needed. It was the first time someone noticed — really noticed — when I wasn’t okay. And it made me realise that what I was feeling actually mattered.

That moment changed how I see mental health.

It showed me how powerful it is when someone simply checks in, listens, or notices when something isn’t right.

And that’s why I’m doing this.

Too many young people are struggling in silence — with anxiety, pressure, and loneliness — feeling like they have no one to turn to.

And the reality is still confronting:

• Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young Australians aged 15–44
• Only 2% of mental health funding goes to prevention

My goal is to raise $1,000 to help fund Mental Health Maintenance workshops, online resources, and community programs that focus on early support and prevention.

20 hours of silence will be temporary for me. But for some people, that feeling of isolation can last much longer.

If this challenge helps even one person feel a little less alone, then it’s worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and support me. Whether you donate, share this, or simply check in on someone you care about — it all matters.

Please be kind to each other. Everyone is going through something, even if you can’t see it.

Send that message. Make that call. Start that conversation. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

And if you’re struggling, you don’t have to go through it alone ❤️