Emily Onikul

20 Hours For 20Talk | Sunday 29th March

Emily is taking on the 20-hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention.

My why

Mental health. We all have it. 
Some of us manage it; healthy lifestyle, counselling and community. 
Some of us are oblivious to it, and mistake it for character; calling ourselves anxious instead of identifying that we experience anxiety. 
Some of us are medicated. 
Some of us speak openly about it, normalising the unpredictable challenges and support those that are not ok.
And all too often poor mental health results in suicide. 
Before turning 30 I have grieved 3 close friends who ended thier lives.
In the past 12 months alone, I have had another 3 close friends attempt suicide resulting in admission to rehabilitation programs to seek support in a safe environment. 
I'm grateful these friends had the means and access to these services.
It highlights that many people don't have access to services due to financial constraints.
I started the year considering what I can do to better support mental health challenges beyond living with an open dialogue, showing up for loved ones and colleagues who appear to be struggling and talking to my young son about our thoughts and the importance of connecting how they make us feel, about self-talk and it's importance. And I landed here. 
At 20talk. 
A charity that encourages mindfulness. 
That asks participants to sit in an open, yet confined space for 20hours. No technology. No talking. 
Just water and a journal (and hopefully a few snacks) to sit with our thoughts. 
I've signed up to thier challenge in March to raise money to support mental health services for young people - (despite falling well outside of this age bracket) but sadly, statistically this age bracket of 18-44 - is the largest affected by suicide (which i, and lots of loved ones still fall into).
If you been affected by suicide. Have a young person in your life experiencing mental health challenges, or are looking for a tax break, please consider donating. 
Thanks for reading.

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!

My Achievements

Fundraising page

Updated Profile Pic

Received 5 Donations

Reached Goal

Thank you to my Sponsors

$316.50

Nish

Well done Em!

$126.62

Jp

$106.12

Anonymous

$106.12

Dgs1

$106.12

Michelle Onikul

$106.12

Michelle Griffiths

$106.12

Mara Andrew Inna

$106.12

Paul March

Great Work

$106.12

Natalie Maguire

$106.12

Laurence Good

$103.72

Kat Bell

Still doing wonderful things to help people. Your amazing. If anyone can do it, you’re that person.

$54.12

Kristy

Xoxox

$54.12

Suze

$54.12

Nikki Schulz

You’re so wonderful and always thinking of others! Proud to call myself your friend. Love you 😘

$54.12

Anonymous

Beautiful and honest words - a very important cause. XXX

$54.12

Toni

Xx

$54.12

Campus Barbershop

Thankyou for you and neddy always putting a smile on my face :)

$27.81

Rob Wood

$27.81

Kylie Evans

Well done Emily

$27.81

Jack

$25

Chloe Placzek

Go Em - such amazing work x

$17.16

Monique Vincent-pascoe

What a fantastic cause. Great job Em

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