Ezekiel Irving

Hey everyone,

In June, I’ll be taking part in the 20 Hours for 20Talk Silence Challenge to support mental health awareness. Over the past few months, I’ve had my own fair share of struggles, and this is something I’ve chosen to take on to highlight just how important mental health support truly is.

As part of the challenge, I’ll be sitting in a 2×2 metre square in a warehouse, alongside 400 other participants, for 20 hours with no talking and no technology. All I’ll have with me are the essentials I bring along: a chair, sleeping mat, journal, water, and food. No distractions.

This experience is a small glimpse into the isolation and struggle that many people living with mental health challenges can feel every day. I know it will be tough, physically, mentally, and emotionally, but I’m taking it on to stand in solidarity with those navigating these experiences and to support the important work being done in this space.

Mental health has touched all of us in some way. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting, and the statistics remain deeply concerning.

• Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 44
• Only 2% of mental health funding goes toward prevention (Mental Health Commission, 2022)

I’m completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge to help turn these statistics around. Your contribution directly supports 20Talk, a mental health charity focused on preventative education for young people, by young people. They work to make mental health education relatable, accessible, and stigma free.

Your generous donations help fund:

• $120 to put a young person through a one day Mental Health Maintenance workshop
• Expansion of 20Talk’s online resources and 60,000+ social media community
• Large scale, interactive mental health events

Mental Health Maintenance (MHM) is a free, one day workshop developed with industry experts to help people better understand, monitor, and care for their mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point. By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help seeking, MHM aims to prevent people from reaching crisis in the first place.
To learn more, visit www.20talk.com.au.

If you, or anyone you know, are able and would like to support me in reaching my fundraising goal, I’ve included the link below. There is absolutely no pressure. I’m just grateful for the support and understanding.

https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundraisers/ezekielirving/20-hours-for-20talk-sydney-june-27

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for supporting such an important 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.