Helen Jekabsons

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

To Choose a Challenge

In less than one month, I will be without phones, clocks, books, arts & crafts, and talking, confined to 4 square metres for 20 hours with just my journal, chair, and bedding. And I'm doing it willingly.

I already do this occasionally on my own, on a smaller scale, for less time, and usually in nature. Sometimes it's a challenge to get started, but I _always_ reap the benefits from doing it.

That's why I am doing this 20Talk challenge. It provides a structure for me to push myself further and be with myself more closely, while also raising awareness & funds for a good cause

Sometimes facing myself is a joy, sometimes a sadness. There are many depths and layers to explore & befriend. The exploration always brings insights that help me to better embody the person I want to be in this world.

Silence is Loud

Being able to sit with oneself for an extended amount of time without distractions is a learnt skill which makes a positive impact on my life. I plan to do it publicly in March; 20hrs of silence in a 2x2m square, no doomscrolling. It's for an excellent cause!

See below for more info:

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!