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
$250
Chris And Kim Drury
$106.12
Doreen
Awesome Sin 😍
$106.12
Shinshade
$106.12
Angela Petty
$100
Anais And Euge
Love you nady ❤️
$100
Muppy And Ches
meow meow betch
$54.84
Lucy Ridsdale
Nice one, Sinead! And a cool experience to boot!
$54.84
Deborah Sands
Go Sinead :)
$54.84
Anonymous
Good on you Sinead for all that you are doing to help others.
$54.84
Luke Seiler
Good Luck Sinead
$54.84
Nathanael Seiler
Proud of you Neady, mental health is an important thing to support and raise awareness for. Love you.
$54.84
Alex Ingle
Love you Nade! What a great cause
$54.84
Renee/ Smudge/mouldy
20 hours without your cats?! Go Sinead :)
$54.84
Lauren Mijok
$54.84
Pauline O'neill
$54.84
Melanie Seiler
You're an amazing and beautiful soul my sissy in law
$50
Nerual / Batman
You’re incredible. Love you
$50
Jessica Leffley
Go Sinny!!!
$50
Gb
Good luck matey :)
$44.71
Alex And Jess
Go you!
$33.87
Denise Thomson
You go girl 😘
$33.87
Anonymous
Sounds like a great initiative and no easy feat! Thanks for offering up your time and courage, and raising awareness, Sinead!
$28.43
Jess And The Boys
So proud of you, Sin!! We’ll be cheering you on xx
$28.43
Veronica James
$28.43
Anonymous
$28.43
Will W
$28.43
Vanessa Karotam
Great cause - and good luck!
$23.50
Antoinette M
$20
Cecilia
Luv Mum
$13
Anonymous
Well done, Sinead! Wishing you all the best. It's a great thing you're doing for youth mental health. Good on you and good luck! Souad
$11.80
Anonymous
Legendary !!!
$11.80
Alise Jozing
You got this girl!
You won’t see this message until after your 20 hours but we are so proud of you! You are a wonderful generous person Sinead! Go girl! ♥️