Ruth Wicks

20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.

20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health.

I’ve signed up to take on the 20 Hours for 20Talk Challenge — which means spending 20 hours sitting in a 2×2 metre square in a warehouse alongside 400 other people… with no talking, no phone, no reading, no music, no podcasts and no distractions.

All I’ll have is a chair, a sleeping mat, some food and water, and a journal.

For anyone who knows me well, you’ll know this is going to be QUITE the challenge 😂

My husband suggested I should perhaps try 20 minutes without talking before attempting 20 hours… but instead I’ve decided to throw myself straight into the proverbial deep end.

But in all seriousness, I’m doing this because mental health matters deeply to me. Like many people, I’ve seen friends, family members and young people navigate anxiety, overwhelm, loneliness and periods of real struggle — often quietly and invisibly. Mental health challenges can feel isolating, dark and confronting, and yet so many people are carrying those feelings every single day.

This challenge is designed to give participants a small glimpse into that isolation and discomfort — and to raise funds for prevention-focused mental health support for young people.

The statistics are still incredibly confronting:
• Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–44
• Only 2% of mental health funding currently goes towards prevention

That’s why I’m supporting 20Talk — a youth mental health charity focused on making mental health education accessible, relatable and proactive. Their work helps equip young people with tools and support before they reach crisis point.

Funds raised help:

• Put young people through Mental Health Maintenance workshops
• Expand free online mental health resources and support
• Deliver large-scale interactive mental health events and campaigns

If you’re in a position to donate, I would be incredibly grateful for your support. Every contribution genuinely helps.

And honestly… if I can survive 20 hours in silence, surely that alone deserves a few dollars 😂

Thank you for reading, for supporting the cause, and for helping create more open conversations around mental health.

And as always — if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. ❤️