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!
Thank you to our Sponsors
$217
Alice
$107
Joel 0z
Lets gooooooooo.
$107
Neil & Andrea Platts
Great cause Barb.
$107
Yates
Good Luck Barb, can you do it tho? 😂❤️
$107
Tracey Hunter
You got this girl, from aunty Joan, Linda, Tracey, Deb and Dave
$107
Belinda Hill
Go you xxx Also a cause close to my heart.
$107
Zacc
$107
Jo Hawke
You are amazing!
$106
Sharron Yates
Good Luck Tess, such a great cause x
$100
Rosemary
Proud mother!
$56
Paul & Sharen Brown
So proud of you Tess. Good luck with the fundraising xx
$56
Vanessa
Such a great cause Barb. So proud of you ❤️💕
$56
Lissa
$56
Sarah Wuest
$56
Jenna Mathie
$56
Kellie Properjohn
$56
Leonie Harris
You rock!
$56
Katherine Hickey
I admire you with this current challenge of undertaking 20hrs of silence to help others. It is so in character for you, you have always chosen careers that helped others. You are amazing Cus.
$56
Global Travel Network
Good luck Barbs x
$56
Theresa Sargent
Go Barb, proud of you xx
$56
Kel
Brilliant Barb Love Kel x
$56
Sandra Passmore
Awesome Barb. Good on you. Xxx
$56
Tracy
Well done Barbs, such an awesome charity to support. So sad to see the youth of today struggling with their mental health. Wishing you all the best with your 20 hours challenge and fund raising!
$56
Trish Mateljan
Good on you Barb 🥰
$56
Lottie And Gdog
Amazing Barbie!
$56
Debbey Jones
Inspirational
$56
Deanna Wilkins
Legend Barb
$56
Louise
Live your work Barb.
$55
Sean Clarke
$55
Chris Gray
$50
Nikki Ambler
You go girl
$50
Teddy Brown
Good lucky Nanny BB 🐝 💛
$37
Rozza
$29
Anonymous
$29
Rita
$29
Brendon &ann Newton
$29
Clare Allender
$29
Brianna & Tim
$29
Ellie Grace
You're amazing ❤️
$29
Lisa Gardiner
Go for it Barb. You've got this ❤️
$29
Andrea Smith
$29
Eunice Temperton
$29
Mairead Dempsey
Disconnect to reconnect is a great way to support mental health, good on you Barbara.
$28
Barbara Brown
$28
Anonymous
Tess you are always inspiring to me. Proud of you xx
$28
Sinti
What a great cause, go Tess!
$25
Rachel Grogan
All my love from my corner of the world! My hero ❤️
$24
Josh Brown
$20
Shelley Carey
$20
Julian Sorgiovanni
Go you!
<3