Ending a big year by sitting still for 20 hours
On 5 December I’m sitting in a 2 x 2 metre square in a Melbourne warehouse for 20 hours. No talking. No phone. No tech. I’ll have a chair, a sleeping mat, a journal, water, snacks, and around 400 other people doing the same thing.
I’m doing it to raise $1,000 for 20Talk, a youth mental health charity that helps young people look after their mental health before they hit crisis point.
Why this, why now
2026 has been a lot. It started at full gallop. I ran my first-ever marathon, on the trails at Buffalo Stampede, and it’s still one of the best days of my life. Then the curveballs came: a car accident, a knee that wanted a holiday from running, cancelled travel plans, an appendix that needed a swift exit, and a stretch of low mood that just wouldn’t lift.
That last one stayed with me. I had great people around me and, eventually, an answer. A lot of young people don’t have either.
Those who know me know I’m not one to admit defeat that easily. So I’m ending the year on something that matters.
What the 20 hours is (and isn’t)
I’m not pretending 20 hours in a warehouse is the same as living with mental ill-health. It isn’t. But sitting with your own thoughts, with nothing to distract you, is a small window into how isolating it can feel. It’s my way of saying: I see you, and I’m in your corner.
In the lead-up I’m doing 20 minutes of silence every day. No phone, no music. The plan was to make a small artwork each time. Some days that’s happened. Other days it’s been a walk, a quiet drive, sitting in the sun, or cleaning the kitchen. It all counts.
Donate $50 or more and I’ll send you one of those artworks as a thank you. Just message me at @human.mde so I can grab your details.
Why 20Talk
The numbers are still confronting:
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–44
- Only around 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission, 2022)
20Talk works in that gap. They make mental health education relatable and accessible, for young people, by young people.
Where your donation goes
- $120 puts one young person through a Mental Health Maintenance workshop
- Growing 20Talk’s free online resources and 60,000+ strong social community
- Running large-scale, interactive mental health events
What’s Mental Health Maintenance?
It’s a one-day workshop, free for participants and built with industry experts. It helps people understand the different parts of their wellbeing, notice when something’s slipping, and know what to do about it, including when to reach out for professional help. The point is to build those skills before crisis point, not after. You can learn more at 20talk.com.au.
Thank you
Thank you for reading this far, and for anything you’re able to give. Sharing this page helps too.
And if this year has been heavy for you, my inbox is always open. If you need someone right now, Lifeline is there 24/7 on 13 11 14.
H x
