Ben's 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge
Hello Family and Friends
In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to take on the challenge of sitting in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. This challenge will be a small look into the day of someone struggling with mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.
So why am I doing this?
I’m doing this to support mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
The isolation and silence of the challenge are intentional. They reflect what so many people experience when they’re struggling — feeling stuck, alone, and without options. Sitting in that discomfort helps build a better understanding of just how heavy those moments can be.
It’s also a chance for a proper mind reset. Stepping away from phones, social media, and constant noise creates space to slow down and sit with my own thoughts — something we rarely allow ourselves to do.
This challenge pushes mental limits. It’s uncomfortable by design, forcing you to resist the urge to quit and build resilience. For me, it’s about learning to sit with just my emotions instead of distracting myself from them.
And even though it’s about isolation, there’s something powerful about doing it alongside others. Sharing the experience creates a deeper sense of connection — with yourself and with the people around you.
What I hope comes from it
Time to reconnect with myself
A forced break from constant digital distraction
Supporting 20Talk so they can continue delivering Mental Health Maintenance courses in schools and universities
I have never challenged myself like this before so figured why not have a go!!
We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting.
Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..
- Suicide still 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 to 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
By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for donating to the cause. Hopefully this small challenge can help change someone’s life.
I will keep you updated as to how I go with the challenge.
Ben
