Why I’m Sitting in Silence for 20 Hours
I’ve signed up to take part in 20 Hours for 20Talk, and to be honest, the idea of sitting in silence for 20 hours is both confronting and deeply intentional.
We live in a world that is constantly noisy. Notifications, conversations, expectations, responsibilities, there’s always something demanding our attention. Silence isn’t something we naturally make space for anymore, and yet it’s often where the hardest thoughts live.
This challenge isn’t about being quiet for the sake of it. It’s about creating space to sit with discomfort, reflection, and stillness, things many young people experience internally every day, often without the words or support to express them.
Mental health is something I care deeply about. Through my work, my relationships, and my own life experiences, I’ve seen how powerful it can be when people feel safe enough to talk, and how isolating it can be when they don’t. 20Talk exists to normalise conversations around mental health and to give young people tools, education, and support before things reach crisis point.
For 20 hours, I’ll be sitting alone in a 2x2 metre space with no talking and no technology. It’s a small sacrifice of comfort, but a meaningful reminder of how isolation, pressure, and overwhelm can feel, and why open conversations matter so much.
I’m raising funds to support the incredible work 20Talk does in schools, communities, and beyond. If you’re able to donate, share this page, or even just start a conversation with someone you care about, you’re already making a difference.
Thank you for supporting me, and thank you for supporting mental health.
In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to take on the challenge of sitting in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. This challenge will be a small look into the day of someone struggling with mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.
So why am I doing this?
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 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 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 $120 puts a young person through a one day Mental Health Maintenance cours
- Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
- Running large-scale interactive mental health events
By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post 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!
