Claudia

I’m fundraising for Mental Health awareness and suicide

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 myself have had struggles with anxiety, panic attacks,  depression and negative self talk in the past. I would say now I only struggle with anxiety due to environmental or situational occurrences in my life. I had previously felt completely isolated from the world, in a darkness that was so indescribable, I felt completely ripped away from society and this turned into dissociation. I didn’t feel real or alive even though I was,  living day to day in a constant state of fight or flight. I know a lot of people can relate to this feeling because many in the world are currently experiencing this. I lost a family member last year due to suicide and it really affected our family, it made me question how we as a society can be more open about mental health and breaking the shackles of shame around depression or whatever emotion or event that has happened in your life to contribute to you feeling this type of way. I’d like to do this in memory of our family member that we lost. I also want to show people that no matter where you are at, you can get out of that darkness and come into the light. I have been there and come out of the darkness and I want to help others in need and hold their hand in showing them that they can do it too. You are never alone, and if I am that person to take a stand and speak up about mental health, then I will do it. I do not hold any shame against myself anymore and I have the strength to empower those around me. All it takes is one voice to change it all. 

Structurally, the statistics are still alarming for suicide and mental health…

• 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 $300 puts a young person through a two-day Mental Health First Aid 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 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. Just a reminder to never judge another human as we never know what they are going through. To always come forward with compassion and love and if we can step up and help, then to do it with absolute passion! 

If you ever need to talk, I’m always here. I Love you all and thank you so much for supporting me and such a wonderful cause 🤍