Emerald Golightly

Normalising Mental Health

Over the course of my life, I spent years pretending I didn’t have a mental health challenge — and that silence only made the hard times harder. I have come to realise this is not something that has to hold me back, rather fuel me to live a more meaningful life.
Moving through postnatal depression and addiction pushed me to find new ways to cope and to finally face myself with honesty. I will be celebrating 10 years clean and sober later this year, through working a 12 step recovery program, I have been gifted with a framework to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.
Becoming a parent almost 15 years ago has opened my eyes, and this fundraiser is all about Youth Mental Health, I want to be apart of changing the way we look at how we handle life, and gain tools to navigate uncertainty, for myself, my family and loved ones, and the wider community within Australia.

My life has come full circle since choosing to own this part of me in a healthy, loving way and shaping my life around who I truly am. It takes courage, consistency, and daily maintenance to live a life that is real and honest.

This is my story. And I’m here to stand beside anyone who is facing their own challenges. It’s so much easier when we come together instead of isolating ourselves.
Every dollar I raise goes towards putting young people through the mental health maintenance course for free, by receiving a scholarship.

With love, Emerald

In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to take on the challenge of sitting in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. This challenge will be a small look into the day of someone struggling with mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.

So why am I doing this?

We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting. 

Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..

• Suicide still 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 to 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 cours
• Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
• Running large-scale interactive mental health events

By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post 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!