Pamela

20HRS for 20Talk | 9th November Melbourne

I'm supporting mental health prevention by completing the 20 Hours For 20Talk Challenge in November

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

At 4am on December 2nd last year, my beautiful children aged 15 and 11 at the time, lost their father to suicide. The impact this has had on them and our family has been immense. Not even my closest and dearest fully know what we go through and battle every day. This grief hits different. Mental illness brings with it so many layers of pain to those around the sufferers. Broken promises, constant disappointments, withdrawal, volatile character and trauma, just to name a few. All of these compound once the person is gone and whole new layers of pain join the mix such as abandonment, anger and the worst for a child, loss of any admiration for a parent.


I want to create attitudinal change around the need to protect our children from the impact of unsuccessful treatment of mental health. Sadly the statistics show that completed suicides are three times more likely in children of suiciding parents than non-suicide bereaved families. 


So to raise funds for the mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to sit in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. Yeah, silence. Just me, my thoughts, a journal and a chair.


We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting. 


Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..

  • Suicide still remains the leading cause of death for people aged 15-44. 
  • The risk of suicide amongst suicide survivors is three times higher than non-suicide bereaved families.
  • Only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission 2022)

I'm completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk to 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 $300 puts a young person through a two-day Mental Health First Aid course
  • Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
  • Running large-scale interactive mental health events

Prevention is where we need to pour our money and attention to. By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional and holistic help-seeking we are preventing people from getting into crisis in the first place.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for donating to the cause.

Together, let’s make sure no child is left behind.

My Achievements

Fundraising page

Updated Profile Pic

Added a Blog Post

Received 5 Donations

Reached Goal

Increased Target

Thank you to my Sponsors

$211

Duncan Stewart

$117.11

Danielle Gerace

So important to champion awareness and prevention. Too many lives lost and impacted.

$105.50

Samantha Cheetham

Go Pam. You’re amazing. Thinking of all of you.

$50

Pamela Carrasco

$50

Bianca Neve

Such an important issue and sending you all my support.

$49.17

Pamela Carrasco

$46.42

Skye

Beautiful words Pam and wishing you all the best for your 20 hours. 4x11 from my family in honour of yours ❤️

$26.38

Anonymous

$23.21

Renèe

Well done on doing this!!

$23.21

Justine Warner

2x11 🥰😘 love you xxxx

$12.66

Kaylee Riley

$11.60

Courtney

$11.60

Kate D

Well done Pam. Sending you lot of love xx

$11.60

Monica Davidson

$11.60

Natalie Goodrick

$11.60

Mina

All the best with this beautiful challenge. Sending love, beauty and compassion to your strong and courageous heart 🌹

$11.60

Stevie Smilas

Your strength is an inspiration. Sending you and your beautiful children so much love ❤️ 💜

$11

Fee