Tara West

20 Hours For 20Talk Sydney | Saturday 27 June

Tara is taking on the 20-hour challenge to support youth mental health and raise awareness about the importance of prevention.

An ounce of prevention

On 27 June, I’ll be joining 400 people in a room in Sydney and doing something I almost never do: nothing. No talking. No devices. No to-do lists. Just 20 hours of silence in a 2x2m square to raise funds for youth mental health through 20Talk.

Why am I doing this?
Too often, a young person’s need for mental health support resources isn’t evident until they’re in crisis or deeply struggling, but 20Talk is trying to flip that script. Their work is about reaching young Australians early, building the emotional vocabulary, tools and safe spaces they need to navigate through life.

As a parent, and as a leader in the workplace, I don’t want young people to have to hit rock bottom before someone shows up for them. I’d rather we build a world where they never get that close to the edge in the first place, by normalising access to psychologists, counsellors, coaches, psychiatrists, and other mental health practitioners with the goal of prevention, not just treatment.

That’s what this fundraiser is for. My goal is $1,000 in donations, and every dollar funds that preventative work. Thank you for supporting if you’re able to. 🙏🏻🫶🏻

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!

My Achievements

Fundraising page

Updated Profile Pic

Received 5 Donations

Reached Goal

Thank you to my Sponsors

$318.90

Damien Maglicic

Amazing effort Tara. Wishing you all the best with the 20 Hours challenge.

$106.12

Jill Hughes

Go Tara!

$106.12

Linda

Good luck Tara xx

$106.12

Simon Cooper

Weeooo! Made it to $1000!

$54.84

Patricia Ryan

Best wishes for this great cause

$54.84

Anonymous

$54.84

Anonymous

$54.84

Chris And Jessica Dickinson

Proud of you. I couldn’t do it. Xx

$54.84

Natalie Whitaker

$54.84

Anonymous

I do support you Tara😄

$50

Jesse Huynh

Go Tara! So inspiring

$50

Bilic Enterprises Pty Ltd

What a great cause!!!!! Super proud of you…..

$33.87

Karen Carroll

Good on you, Tara. 💕

$28.43

Tara

Let’s get the ball rolling!

$25

Natalie Macadam

What a great cause, go Tara!! 👏👏

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