ieisha chappell

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

Miles That Matter: Our Journey to Start the Conversation

Mind Over Miles: Every Step Starts a Conversation

Some battles are invisible.

Every day, people around us are carrying pain that no one else can see. They smile, they laugh, they show up—but behind closed doors, they may be fighting battles they never speak about. Too many lives have been lost because those battles were faced alone.

That’s why we’re taking on the 20HoursFor20Talk challenge.

For 20 hours, our team Mind Over Miles will keep putting one foot in front of the other—not because it’s easy, but because every step represents someone who needs to know they’re not alone. Every kilometre is walked for the people we’ve lost, for those who are still fighting, and for the families and friends whose lives have been forever changed by mental health struggles.

We can’t erase someone’s pain with a single conversation. But a conversation can remind someone that they matter. It can give hope, create connection, and be the reason someone chooses to keep going.

If our journey encourages even one person to reach out, check in on a loved one, or ask for help, then every blister, every sore muscle, and every sleepless hour will be worth it.

Mental health doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. That’s why we believe no one should ever feel ashamed to speak up, and no one should have to suffer in silence.

As we walk, we ask you to walk beside us in your own way. Start a conversation. Check in on someone you’ve been thinking about. Listen without judgment. Share our message. Donate if you’re able. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to make a difference.

Together, we can remind people that hope is real, help is available, and no one has to face their darkest days alone.

Because sometimes, one conversation can change—or even save—a life.

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 equippig them with the knowledge and tools to maintai 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!