Steph

70% there, thank you 🥹

thank you so much for your support so far! 🥹 we’re over 70% of the way to our initial combined goal :) if you haven’t yet, we’d love your support for youth mental health through 20talk!

i’ll be at Pixel Expo this saturday 15th august (as cartethyia) & sunday 16th august (as frieren) — come say hi if you spot me! (:

was painting my elf ears ready for the convention — a little chaotic at first, but we got there 🤣

Why I'm Fundraising 🤍 20 Hours of Silence for Youth Mental Health

Hi! I'm Steph. 🌸

On the 5th of September, my friend Christie and I will be taking part in 20 Hours for 20talk by spending 20 hours in silence, without technology.

We'll each spend those 20 hours in individual 2 × 2 metre squares with only the basics — a sleeping mat, chair, water, food and a journal — to represent the isolation and struggle that some people experiencing mental health challenges may feel every day.

For me, this challenge is about much more than just twenty hours.

Like many people, I've experienced seasons that felt a lot like sitting in the dark — unsure if it was safe to get up, or whether the next step would be fruitful.

I've navigated deep, underlying melancholy, difficult medication side effects, and one of the hardest seasons of my life: my dad's Alzheimer's diagnosis, the journey that followed, and his eventual passing.

Through those experiences, I learned that living and healing aren't about presenting to the world that everything is okay. Instead, they happen through intentional community, support, and learning from others how to navigate difficult seasons.

I wouldn't be facing the future with the hope and contentment I have today without the people who walked alongside me.

That's why I'm supporting 20talk.

I love that their focus isn't just on helping people in crisis, but also on giving young people practical tools to build resilience, take better care of their mental health, and create supportive communities before they reach that point.

Mental health affects all of us in some way, whether personally or through someone we love.

My hope is that, together, we can help make support, education, and hope more accessible for the next person who needs it.

If you'd like to support Christie and me, we'd be incredibly grateful for a donation of any amount.

And if you're not in a position to donate, sharing this page would mean just as much.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. 🤍

If reading this has brought up anything difficult for you, please know you don't have to face it alone. Reach out to someone you trust, your GP, or one of the support services below.

Support is available:

• Lifeline — 13 11 14 (call or text, 24/7)
• WA Mental Health Emergency Response Line — 1300 555 788
• Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800
• In an emergency, call 000