20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.
I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge — and this one is incredibly personal to me.
For 20 hours, I’ll be sitting in a 2×2 metre square in a warehouse alongside 400 other participants. No talking. No phone. No distractions. Just a chair, sleeping mat, journal, water, and food. Just me and my thoughts.
This challenge is designed to give a small glimpse into the isolation and struggle that so many people facing mental health challenges experience every day. I know it’s going to be tough — physically, mentally, and emotionally — but it’s something I feel deeply connected to.
In my life, I’ve been exposed to the darkest side of mental health. I’ve lost people who were far too young — And I often find myself thinking… maybe things could have been different if there was more support available to him.
Despite what you might see on my social media, I’ve also had my own struggles. Last year, I hit one of the lowest points in my life — something I’ve never really opened up about before. My family had to watch my personality slowly drain away, as I became someone I didn’t even recognise. That’s what mental health can do.
This is why I care so deeply about this cause.
We have all been touched by mental health in some way — and the reality is still confronting:
- 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 this challenge to help change that.
20Talk is a mental health charity focused on prevention — making education accessible, relatable, and “cool” for young people, by young people. They run initiatives like Mental Health Maintenance (MHM), a free one-day workshop designed with industry experts to help people better understand and manage their mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point.
Your donations go towards:
- $120 = putting a young person through a Mental Health Maintenance workshop
- Expanding their online resources and 60,000+ community
- Running large-scale, interactive mental health events
Something I’ve always believed in is the need for more support — especially for younger minds. More education, more facilities, more early intervention. Because no one should reach a point where they feel like there’s no way out.
If you’re able to donate, it would honestly mean so much to me. And if not, even sharing or reading this is appreciated more than you know.
And if you’re struggling — please don’t do it alone. I’m always here to chat 🤍
Thank you for supporting something that has the potential to truly change lives.
