Danielle Legassick

One thing I've learned is that mental illness doesn't always look the way people expect. Sometimes it looks like someone who never stops moving.

I keep myself constantly busy because being alone with my thoughts can be overwhelming. I fill every moment with tasks, responsibilities, projects, and distractions because silence often means facing things I'd rather avoid.

I live with CPTSD and have spent years battling major depression, insomnia, panic attacks, and periods where simply getting through the day felt impossible. There have been times in my life when I struggled with suicidal thoughts and couldn't see a way forward.

That's what makes the 20Talk challenge so significant for me.

For 20 hours, I will step away from all the distractions and sit with nothing but my thoughts and a journal. No phone. No social media. No television. No escaping into being busy. Just me, confronting the reality of what so many people experience every day when struggling with their mental health.

Mental illness has affected not only me but also members of my family and friends. I've seen firsthand how deeply it impacts individuals, relationships and entire families. Ive also lost a close friend to suicide.

I'm also the mother of an incredible son with Level 3 autism. While autism is not a mental illness, our family understands the challenges that can come with isolation, anxiety, overwhelm, and navigating a world that isn't always designed to provide the support people need.

That's why I'm fundraising for 20Talk.

20Talk is a Perth-based youth mental health charity focused on prevention, education, and early intervention. The funds raised help provide Mental Health Maintenance training, Mental Health First Aid scholarships, school presentations, awareness campaigns, and practical mental health education for young Australians.

I know how important it is that people have access to support before they reach crisis point.

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 equipping them with the knowledge and tools to maintain 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.

Every donation, no matter the amount, helps 20Talk continue providing life-changing education, resources, and support to young people who may be facing challenges of their own.

If you're able to donate, thank you. If you're able to share this fundraiser, thank you.

Together we can help start conversations, reduce stigma, and remind people that they don't have to face their struggles alone.If you ever need to chat, I’m always here. 💚