20 Hours for 20Talk — In Honour of My Dad

On 6 September, I’m taking on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge — 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 with me are the essentials: a chair, sleeping mat, journal, water and food. No distractions.

This challenge will be physically, mentally and emotionally challenging, but for me, it carries a much deeper meaning.

Why am I doing this?

I’m dedicating my 20 Hours for 20Talk experience to my late dad, who died by suicide in 2022.

Losing my dad changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. One of the hardest parts of grief is knowing that so many of those big life moments I once assumed he would be there for have been taken away — seeing me get married, meeting my children, celebrating milestones, buying a home and all of the other moments in life that I wish I could share with him.

The pain of losing him can still feel unbearable, even years later. I still have moments where I feel trapped and isolated within my own thoughts, and my own mental health is something I continue to work on.

But rather than allowing that pain to define me, I’ve chosen to use it as my WHY.

My dad's death is the driving force behind why I want to raise money, start conversations and help create greater awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.

His passing is a reminder to me that more needs to be done — particularly when it comes to early intervention, mental health education and recognising the signs before it’s too late.

But I also want to make something very clear:

My dad's death does not define who he was.

He was so much more than the way his life ended.

He was hardworking, caring and compassionate. He was a great listener, someone who genuinely cared about the people around him, and someone who always strived to be better.

That is the person I want to remember and honour.

And that is why I’m doing this challenge in his name.

Why 20Talk?

We have all been touched in some way by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely and confronting, and too often people don't get the support they need until they reach crisis point.

The statistics are alarming:

• Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young Australians.
• Only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission, 2022).

20Talk is working to change this by making mental health education relatable, accessible and engaging — for young people, by young people.

Your donation helps support:

• Every $120 puts a young person through a one-day Mental Health Maintenance course.
• Expanding 20Talk’s online mental health resources and 60,000+ social media community.
• Running large-scale, interactive mental health events.
• Providing young people with practical tools and knowledge to support their mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point.

What is Mental Health Maintenance?

Mental Health Maintenance (MHM) is a free, one-day workshop developed with industry experts to help people better understand different areas of their wellbeing and learn practical ways to monitor and maintain it.

The aim is to equip people with the knowledge and tools to look after their mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point — improving mental health literacy, reducing harmful stigma and encouraging people to seek professional help when they need it.

That early support matters.

Because sometimes recognising that someone is struggling, having a conversation or providing the right tools at the right time can make all the difference.

Help me honour my dad

I know that sitting in a 2×2 metre square for 20 hours won't change what happened to my dad.

But I hope that by putting myself through this challenge, sharing his story and raising money for prevention, something positive can come from the pain of losing him.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps support a cause I believe is incredibly important.

I’m doing this for my dad.

For the person he was.

For the people who are struggling.

For the families who are left behind.

And for the hope that, through better education, awareness and early intervention, we can help someone before it's too late.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting my challenge. Every donation, share and conversation helps.

Hopefully, this small challenge can help change someone’s life.

For you Dad, I love you x