Holly Carpenter

Thank you!

why am i doing this?

If you know me, you know this is incredibly out of my comfort zone, of which i almost never leave. But this year i made a silent goal for myself to take part in something challenging to raise money and awareness for mental heath. I came across 20talk and this challenge and i’ve completely surprised myself and committed to something bigger and harder than i ever imagined myself doing.

I am no stranger to mental illness, i have had a life long battle with my own brain, and watched so many people i love suffer too.

One of the hardest parts of mental health struggles is how invisible they can be. People only see the version of you that still shows up to work, still jokes around, still has a smile on their face, still says “I’m okay.” I got so good at masking it i was often perceived as the “bubbly” girl who laughs at everything. 

Until i wasn’t, i reached a breaking point and i couldn’t hide it anymore, i wasn’t showing up to work, i wasn’t seeing or speaking to my friends, i wasn’t smiling anymore. 

I have come a long way over the past couple years but i am not going to lie and say i am “better” or “cured”, i still struggle every day, some worse than others but healing isn’t linear nor is it easy, but most importantly it is not something you have to do alone. Years of therapists, hospitals, medications, and most importantly meeting people who are also going through their own battles has taught me that. 

Raising awareness for this cause is so so important to me. The resources and funding for mental health are so limited. I have met too many people who have been in places, or met with medical professionals in the field who are meant to be a safe space and a source of help only to be left worse off, disregarded, and in some cases genuinely traumatised from the experience. 

I don’t want people to feel like they can’t ask for help, i don’t want people to be scared of help, i don’t want people to suffer in silence until they just can’t take it anymore. This is why i have so much respect for the team at 20talk and the work they are putting in to raise, funds and awareness to provide more accessible help for early intervention. 

I am proud of myself for taking on this challenge and now that i have poured (a very small fraction) of my heart out to however many people decide to read this, there’s no going back.

For me to do this challenge i have to raise a minimum of $1000, and to get there would mean the world to me. Every dollar counts no matter how big or small i will be forever grateful, if you are not in a position to donate i completely understand, just sharing my link around will be a massive help (and it’s free to do!).

I look forward to updating you all on the journey.

Much love, 

Hol 💛

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.