Hello & thank you for coming
This is a cause very close to my heart on many levels - as a parent, a psychologist, and a human who has lost people to their own mental health struggles. Last year I had to close down a charity where I was clinical lead, due to a loss of funding. It was a low cost counselling service for queer youth, and the process of closing it significantly rocked my own mental stability.
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 their mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.
So why am I doing this?
I am not a marathon runner, or a master baker, so I have chosen to do this challenge as I regroup this year and work out what my next step is in contributing to the community.
We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health challenges. 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)
- when you take into account marginalised communities such as LGBTIQA+ identities, people with disabilities and people of colour, the statistics are even more stark
I'm completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk 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
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! xxx
