The Longest Conversation I’ve Ever Avoided
I was 4 when I lost my mum.
I'm still learning what it means to grieve her, and to grieve the little girl who was left to figure out the world without her. I carried all of it alone, for a very long time.
I've never really let myself feel it. I kept busy, kept the noise up, kept moving, because stopping felt too big. So this year I'm doing something that scares me: 20 Hours for 20Talk. Twenty hours of silence, just me and my thoughts. Twenty hours of finally turning towards the part of me I've spent my whole life looking away from.
I'm doing it for her. For me. And for the people I love who are fighting their own battles, often in silence, because mental health is still so stigmatised that many of us feel we have to hide it. Nobody should feel alone in it.
That's why I chose 20Talk. They help young people learn how to care for their minds before they reach breaking point. $120 gives one young person a full day that could change their path.
If you can give, even a little, you'll be helping someone feel seen. If you can't, sharing this means just as much.
And if you're hurting right now, please reach out to someone. You are not too much, and you don't have to hold it alone. 💛
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me 🫂
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!
Thank you to my Sponsors
$216.50
Heather Mason
$200
Chris Mason
Good luck Rosie. Great cause.
$104.35
Lisa Jamieson
You are a legend Rosie
$82.13
Maddi Madeira
$55.95
Sandy Ng
Go beautiful Rosie, cheering you on always! <3
$55.95
Mohsen Mahdavi
❤️❤️❤️
$55.95
Sharon Walsh
You are an inspiration ❤️
$55
Tasneem Islam
Go gettem tiger
$54.75
Emilia Watson
$50
Rosie Mahdavi
$50
Sara
$50
Matt K
$45.30
Emma Perry
Always proud of you❤️ What an amazing cause and what an amazing human you are!
$34.40
Lucy
You are a slayer girl
$34.40
Frances Cumming
So proud of you Rosie xxx
$34.40
Sophie Thom
Such an inspiration! You got this!
$28.81
Ruby Harris
$28.81
Tamsyn Perry
U are amazing!
$28.81
Liv Wintle
$28.81
Maddie
So proud of you LOVE YOU
$28.81
Joshua Mason
I love you ❤️
$28.81
Ripley
Love your work Rosie!
$28.81
Charly Oakley
Proud and inspired <3
$25
Soph Weine
YOU MY GIRL ARE AN INSPIRATION. Keep doing what you’re doing ❤️🩹
$25
Tasneem Islam
$25
Lucie Clairs
Sending you love Rosie 🫶🫶
$23.81
Natalie Giannakopoulos
🤍🤍🤍
$23.81
Anonymous
You're amazing and such an inspiration to everyone around you! I'm so sure your mom would be so proud to see everything you've achieved!❤️
$23.81
Sienna W
You’re incredible 💗
$23.81
Shonali Pant
$23.81
Cassidy Richards
$11.92
Anonymous
$11.92
Sue J
Sending love ❤️
You are courageous and fabulous