My reason why
Mental health isn’t just a cause I care about—it’s something that has shaped my life.
At 14 years old, I made the incredibly difficult decision to leave home to escape ongoing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. For the next two years, I lived in homeless shelters while trying to rebuild my life. Throughout that time, I faced trauma that no young person should have to experience, but I also learned how life-changing it is when someone listens, believes you, and reminds you that you’re not alone.
Today, I work in community services, supporting people through some of the hardest moments of their lives. Every day I see how important accessible mental health support is and how many people are still struggling to find it.
That’s why I’m taking part in the 20 Hours for 20Talk fundraiser.
I’m fundraising because I believe everyone deserves access to support before they reach crisis point. No one should have to suffer in silence or feel like they have nowhere to turn.
If my story can encourage even one person to ask for help, or if this fundraiser helps someone access the support they need, then every hour and every dollar raised will be worth it.
Thank you for supporting me, supporting 20Talk, and helping create a future where mental health support is available to everyone who needs it.
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!
