Dawn Lim

How are you? How are you really?

Heya, I’m Dawn

You’ll ask who Dawn is, but I wouldn’t be able to answer that fully either. 

I’m 18 and I’m taking part in 20Hours for 20Talk. In order to raise funds for youth mental health, I’m going to sit in a 2-meter square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal, and a chair to sit on. 

I was born in Malaysia and migrated to Australia at the age of seven. Being as young as I was, I mainly wore a happy go lucky attitude, smiling through each day, ignorant of what was truly happening. However I knew things changed and were changing. Since then life has been one of adversity, lined with silver linings. Sparing details, I’ve learnt recently that every setback has made me the person I am today.  

Drawn towards psychology, I know that my career will help others with their mental health and wellbeing. Whatever that entails. Everyone has their own story, each person living a life as vivid and complex as the next. It’s easy to mask the hurt and the weight we carry. It’s easy, yet immensely burdensome. 

Why 20hour for 20talk?

• Underfunding in Suicide Prevention | 80% of the population is supported by 2% of mental health prevention funding. (MHC, 2021)
• Increasing Concern | The WHO predicts depression will be the world’s leading disease by 2030. (WHO, 2021)
• Poor Relatability | Researchers know how to foster positive wellbeing but they are failing educate young people in a way they can relate to and understand

20Talk provides scalable, prevention focused solutions, that integrates relatable mental health tools into the lives of young people. It’s purpose goes beyond conventional mental health support. They strive to empower young adults aged 18-30 by integrating essential mental health tools and skills into their lives. 

My parents taught me that wisdom comes from silence. In a world filled with excess stimuli, there’s rarely an hour when I’m not on my device. AirPods in: Spotify, Netflix, Podcasts. When I’m unplugged, thoughts compound by the second and they are left unattended. I realise the importance of unplugging and this fundraiser is an amazing opportunity to do so. 

Your contribution goes towards 20Talk’s relatable prevention campaigns. They are a mental health charity that makes education accessible for young people by young people. Every dollar counts. 

Your donations will put towards mental health maintenance courses, campaigns and outreach. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I would greatly appreciate it if you sponsored me and supported my efforts to give back and change lives. 

God bless, 

Dawn :)