Nat Egan

The reason I’m doing this challenge is deeply personal. If you have a moment, I’d like to share why.

Why This Matters to Me

On the 20th of October 2025, I received a phone call asking me to come and help Matt.

By the time I arrived, I was too late.

Matt was 45 years old, and we lost him to suicide.

Matt wasn’t just a friend to me. He felt like another brother. The kind of person you could laugh with, get up to a bit of mischief with, and rely on when life got tough.

He gave proper hugs. The real kind. Not the awkward side hug with the bum sticking out and a quick, awkward pat on the back. The kind that made you feel like everything would be alright.

He genuinely cared about people. If you needed someone in your corner, you wanted it to be him.

The hard part now is knowing that the same person who made so many people feel supported must have been hurting in ways we didn’t see.

His loss still doesn’t feel real.........

The night I got that call, something inside me just dropped. One minute life was normal, and the next minute everything had changed.

I’m usually the person who jumps straight into action when something goes wrong, but this time I felt completely thrown. I didn’t know what to do first, what to say, or how to make sense of any of it. All the emotions, the feels, were spinning me in circles. I recall having to snap myself out of it and take the brave step forward......

Walking in and seeing him, knowing there was no taking it back… that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.

And the questions that come afterwards can be heavy.

Could I have helped?

Could I have got there sooner?

Was there something I should have seen?

Those thoughts don’t disappear easily.

What I do know is this. I never want another family, another group of friends, or another community to experience that moment. The shock. The helplessness. The feeling that someone you care about didn’t believe there was another way forward.

That’s why I’m supporting 20Talk.

If organisations like this can help start conversations earlier, educate young people about mental health, and remind even one person that they are not alone, then it matters.

For me, this challenge is also personal.

Sitting quietly in a small box for 20 hours might sound simple, but for someone who isn’t exactly known for sitting still, it will be a chance to slow down, reflect, and honour Matt in my own way.

I’m also taking on this challenge alongside Matt’s beautiful wife, Annie. Standing together in his memory and supporting youth mental health feels like a meaningful way to honour the kind of person he was.

If this challenge helps prevent even one family from experiencing the kind of loss we now carry, then it will be worth it.

Why I’m Sitting in a Box for 20 Hours

To raise funds for the mental health charity 20Talk, I’ll be sitting in a two metre square box for 20 hours.

No phone.

No technology.

No talking.

Just a chair, a journal, and my own thoughts. (maybe a sneaky yoga mat)

The idea behind this challenge is to give a small glimpse into what it can feel like for someone struggling with their mental health. Feeling isolated. Sitting with overwhelming thoughts. Feeling like there’s no easy way to say what’s going on inside.

So why am I doing it?

Because mental health affects all of us.

Because I’ve seen the impact up close.

Because I don’t want anyone to feel like they don’t have another option.

And if I’m honest, because Annie asked me… and once she said it was for youth mental health, I didn’t stand much chance of saying no.

(Also, I’m sure a few people will enjoy the idea of me being silent for 20 hours.)

The Reality

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–44.

Yet only a small percentage of mental health funding goes towards prevention.

That’s why organisations like 20Talk matter.

They focus on early conversations, education, and helping young people understand their mental health before things reach crisis point.

Where Your Support Goes

Funds raised help 20Talk continue their prevention work, including:

• Mental Health Maintenance courses for young people

• Expanding their online resources and community

• Running large scale interactive mental health education events

By improving mental health literacy, reducing stigma, and encouraging people to seek help earlier, we can stop people reaching crisis point in the first place.

Sponsor an Hour

There are 20 hours in the challenge, and I’d love for people to sponsor an hour.

Your name will be written on the outside of the box for that hour so you’re part of the challenge with me.

Anyone who has already donated is welcome to take an hour. If you haven’t donated but would like to sponsor one, you can do that through the fundraiser.

Just send me a message or comment and I’ll allocate the hours.

It feels fitting that the support behind the box represents the people standing behind the cause.

One Small Ask

Even a small donation helps more young people learn about their mental health and know where to turn when things feel heavy.

And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this page helps it reach more people.

Sometimes the right message reaching the right person at the right time can change everything.

If Matt’s story resonated with you, supporting this challenge helps keep these conversations going and may help someone realise they’re not alone.

Because sometimes a single conversation can save a life.