Georgia Dean

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

My why behind completing the 20Talk Challenge

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a major advocate for mental health. Not only have I experienced it firsthand, but know many family members and friends, colleagues and classmates who have experienced it too.

Here are some statistics about the mental health trends in Australia within the last few years:

298 Australians aged between 18 and 24 years died by suicide in 2023.

42.9% of Australians aged 16–85 years had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life in 2020-2022.

12,000 calls about suicide were received by Kids Helpline in 2023, documenting 3,893 crisis interventions, nearly half involving suicide risks.

In 2023, young people aged 15–19 rated their happiness at just 6.2 out of 10, the lowest score in a decade.

I will be completing the 20Talk Challenge not only to test my own resilience as I sit in my discomfort. But to raise both awareness around the mental health crisis we are currently living in, and funds that go towards resources and support for those who are struggling.

For those of you who are reading this, I hope you know you are not alone, it is never weak to speak, an my inbox is always open.

Thank you all for your time & support 💛

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 equipping them with the knowledge and tools to maintain 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!