Chloe Green

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

Facing my fears for 20Talk

Hi, I'm Chloe, and on the 6th of September I'll be taking part in the 20 Hours for 20TALK challenge 💛

For 20 hours, I'll be sitting alone in a 2x2 metre square. No phone. No books. No music. No distractions. Just me and my thoughts 💭

If you'd asked me a year ago to do something like this, I probably would've laughed (out of fear). But this past year has been one of the hardest and most challenging of my life.

Losing my granddad completely changed me. Grief is something I never truly understood until I experienced it myself, and it's challenged my mental health in ways I never expected. There have been days where I've felt overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally exhausted and most of all, avoidant. Instead of facing what I was feeling, I often found myself shutting down or trying to outrun the pain because I didn't know how to carry it. I was left feeling lost and unsure of how to move through everything I was carrying.

Over the last few months, I've been working hard to better understand my own mental health, to heal, and to grow in a way that works for me 💛

One of the biggest things I've learnt is that growth doesn't happen by staying comfortable. Sometimes, it means choosing to do something that scares you.

This challenge absolutely scares me. Sitting alone with my thoughts for 20 hours won't be easy, but that's exactly why I'm doing it. I want to prove to myself that I can do hard things while raising awareness and funds for a cause that means so much to me.

Mental health struggles often happen quietly. You never truly know what someone else is carrying, and having the right support at the right time can make all the difference.

If you're in a position to donate, I'd be incredibly grateful. Every contribution helps 20TALK continue raising awareness, providing education, and improving access to mental health support for Australians.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, for supporting me, and for helping make a difference. ❤️

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!