Choose you!
As a young person I was insecure, and unsure of who I really was. But, I tried to find myself in things that I didn’t ultimately want.
I was a teen attracted to girls, but never thought I could ever be with them. And I had a faith where I abandoned myself for the sake of “belonging”.
I married a man and had children thinking that following society’s standards would make me feel acceptable. But instead, it took a toll on my mental health and it was psychologically harmful.
This way of living, was not living, and it was slowly killing me. I had become a shell of a person. I didn’t KNOW who I was, and I didn’t love who I was.
I had to make the most challenging decision I would ever have to face. I would either continue to live miserably with financial stability, which would eventually lead to taking my own life anyway.
Or choose to live my life authentically, for a chance to find love with a woman, and to experience real FREEDOM. Choose to be unapologetically ME.
So, a few years ago, I began the process of completely uprooting my life. I stripped away old support networks, and started life from scratch. I also left my career as a primary school teacher due to autistic burnout, and poor mental health.
But, little did I realise that advocating for myself, and finally choosing me, would help me find my TRUE self again, and would lead to this new love for myself. A love that I’ve never experienced before.
I hope by sharing my story, other young people will choose to live their lives authentically too. I chose me, you should choose YOU!
I once didn’t know who I was.
But, now I am KNOWN.
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!
