Kira Gabriel

20 Hours of Silence. So Silence Doesn’t Have to Be Permanent. ❤

WHY I’M DOING THIS ❤️

Mental health has been a huge part of my life and the lives of so many people around me.

One of the hardest things about mental health is that you never truly know what someone is carrying behind closed doors. Someone can seem like the happiest person in the room while privately struggling with something they feel like nobody else could possibly understand.

I’ve always hated the stigma around not showing emotion or pretending you don’t care. I’ve always been someone who wears my heart on my sleeve, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised we shouldn’t have to hide that part of ourselves.

If we don’t talk, feel and understand ourselves, how can we possibly expect to love and understand other people?

Growing up, I often felt like I couldn’t voice how I was feeling. There was that very Australian attitude of “toughen up, there are people worse off.” I think a lot of us grew up hearing some version of that, but just because someone else might be doing it tougher doesn’t mean our own feelings aren’t valid.

We need to stop teaching people to push their feelings aside and start teaching them that it’s okay to talk about them.

I think it’s much fkn cooler to own who you are and admit when you’re struggling than to suffer in silence.

To go to therapy.
To ask for help.
To lean on a mate.
To tell someone you love them.
To say, “I’m not okay.”

That’s not weakness. That’s being human.

This cause is particularly important to me because I work with children who experience disability, disadvantage and trauma. I believe every child deserves to feel safe, understood and heard, and to know they can speak up about what they’re going through without fear of judgement.

Having received my ADHD diagnosis as an adult has also shown me how important awareness, education and understanding can be. I often think about how valuable it is for people to understand themselves and access the right support as early as possible.

I want to help contribute to a future where young people don’t feel they have to hide who they are or struggle alone.

So on December 5th, I’m taking on 20 HOURS OF SILENCE as part of 20 Hours for 20Talk, raising money for youth mental-health prevention and education. ❤️

And for those who know me, you’ll know this is going to be a challenge in itself  I struggle to sit still for five minutes, let alone stay quiet for 20 HOURS in a room full of people, But that’s exactly why I’m pushing myself to do it for a cause I genuinely believe in.

I’m doing this because I want to help break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage more open, honest conversations.

Let’s stop making our silence permanent.

Let’s talk. Let’s listen. Let’s understand each other.

My goal is to raise $1,000, and every donation and share helps me get closer to that goal.

If you can support my fundraiser, I’d be incredibly grateful. Even if this encourages one person to check in on a mate, start a conversation or feel a little less alone, it’s worth it.