My 'why'
The first person I lost to suicide was my Uncle, Michael.
I was 14 years old. He didn't say goodbye to me. Forty years later, that still hurts. And there were no resources to help me navigate that stuff.
20Talk empowers young people with mental health support and maintenance through relatable resources - which IS suicide prevention, very early on.
The 20 Hours for 20Talk goal is to fund 2100 Mental Health Maintenance scholarships for Australians aged 18-30, this year.
It's an initiative that truly deserves as much support as possible, so I've signed up to 'think inside the square', on Saturday 27 June 2026.
What's involved? NOT talking for 20 hours straight. No phones, books, nothing. Just a 2x2m space, and a journal. They say it's a lot harder than it sounds - so, perfect!
This is my first official CEO Challenge, and I would really appreciate any donation - I know things are tight. But remember - most people would donate a kidney just to have me shut up for an hour, so this is basically some really good value ;)
To make the offer a little more enticing, here's an invitation: ask me any question you like, in the message area with your donation, and I'll answer it (with paper and pen) during the challenge. The answer will be scanned and sent to you after the event!
If you're able to help, please donate here and help me reach the $1000 minimum target. https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/s/7237/7628
Thank you so much!
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!
