Ellen Inglese

20 Hours In A Box, No Tech, No Talk - Just To Prove That Silence Shouldn’t Be Where Mental Health Ends.

To raise funds for youth mental health charity 20Talk, I’m taking on a challenge:

20 hours in a 2-metre square box, no talking, no tech, no distractions.

It’s designed to give a small glimpse into what it can feel like for someone battling mental health issues without support; just you, your thoughts, and nothing to lean on. I’ll have a journal, a pen, and somewhere to sit or lie down. That’s it.

So why am I doing this? We were all young once, and most of us know what it’s like to struggle in silence. Mental health affects everyone, but not everyone gets the help they need. If this challenge helps even one person feel seen or supported, it’s done its job.

We’ve all seen it or felt it. Poor mental health can be dark, isolating, and hard to talk about.

Even with more awareness these days, the stats are still grim:

• Suicide is still the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 – 44.

• Only 2% of mental health funding goes to prevention. (Mental Health Commission, 2022)

I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talkchallenge to help shift this. Sitting in silence for 20 hours is nothing compared to what some young people face every day.

20Talk is a charity making mental health content that actually connects; by young people, for young people. Your donation helps fund:

• Mental Health First Aid training for young people ($300 each)

• Growing 20Talk’s 60,000+ strong online community

• Running events that get people talking, like this one

It’s all about prevention, boosting awareness, cutting through stigma, and making it okay to ask for help before things get critical.

Thanks for backing this. With your help, this small act might make a big difference