Danielle

Practicing what I preach

As a provisional psychologist, I'm constantly seeking deeper ways to understand the lived experience of mental health — not just through textbooks or therapy rooms, but through empathy, action, and personal challenge.

That’s why, in support of the mental health charity 20Talk, I’m committing to 20 hours in a 2x2 metre box — no phone, no talking, no distractions. Just my thoughts, a journal, and a chair.

This is more than a fundraiser. It’s a symbolic insight into what isolation, rumination, and silence can feel like — a glimpse into the emotional space many people with mental health struggles live in every day.

So why am I doing this?

Mental health affects all of us. Whether personally or through someone we love, we’ve felt its weight — the silence, the loneliness, the stigma.

As a psychologist-in-training, I’m learning every day about the complexity and beauty of the human mind — but structurally, we still have a long way to go.

• Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 15–44.

• Just 2% of total mental health funding goes toward prevention (Mental Health Commission, 2022).

I'm taking on this challenge as part of 20 Hours for 20Talk to help shift that reality.

20Talk is a youth-led charity changing the way we talk about mental health — through relatable, proactive education, accessible resources, and powerful online communities.

Your donation helps make that happen:

💡 $300 puts a young person through Mental Health First Aid training.
📱 Grows their social media platform, already reaching over 60,000 young people.
🎤 Funds large-scale events that normalise mental health conversations.

When we increase literacy, remove stigma, and encourage early help-seeking, we stop crises before they begin. That’s prevention — and that’s the future I’m working toward.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you can donate or simply share this message, know that your support helps change lives — and maybe even save one.

And if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.
With gratitude and purpose, Danielle