Carine Labatut

20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.

When people ask 'How's your health?' most of us immediately think about body, bones and blood. Rarely do we think about mental health. 

A psychologist once explained it to me like this:
When you have the flu, people can see it. You sneeze, you look tired, you stay in bed and everyone understands you need care and support. Usually, you understand it too.

But mental health is often invisible. People can struggle deeply without others noticing and sometimes without even recognising it themselves.

We speak more openly about vulnerability nowadays. We share Brené Brown quotes, watch the TED Talks, and talk about mental health. We create days to ask each other if we are ok to raise awareness that many are not. But whether we learned it or not, whether we've had good examples around us or not, expressing emotions, sit with difficult feelings, or ask for help without shame, doesn't always come easy.

As a mum raising a boy and a girl, this matters deeply to me. And the numbers around suicide rates in Australia - especially amongst young boys - are horrendous.

I know my children will face many mental 'flus' throughout their lives. Stress, loneliness, self-doubt, heartbreak, pressure, fear. And I hope I can help create space where those things can be spoken about openly and without judgment.

That’s one of the reasons I’m taking part in the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge. If this topic is close to your heart - please make a donation to support the team from 20 Talk in changing the perception and narrative around mental health❤️

PS: I took my profile picture for this fund raising on my bday this year. I felt genuinely happy and wanted to be able to look back at myself in that moment. That's one of the ways I keep my spirits up when I get low.