A Legacy For Her Sister
In 2012 Stefanie decided to honour her sister’s memory by staying completely silent for 24 hours on October 10th, World Mental Health Day. Eight years on and Stef has created a tradition.
Mental illness has effected Stef and her family severely. After the loss of Stef’s father in 2002 to suicide and the loss of her sister in 2012, Stef’s mother now suffers from post-traumatic stress and Stef herself is living with depression.
Stef has remained strong through all of it but wants to help teenagers and young adults just like her sister who are not able to cope with their mental illness, so every year, she raises money for Headspace and the great work they do by shutting up for the whole day on World Mental Health Day.
Over the last eight years Stef has managed to raise over $20,000 for the youth mental health organisation and this year she’d like to raise even more to help those who need it.
Although staying silent for a day can be difficult, and as Stef notes, very lonely, she hopes that her silence will start a conversation and help those living with mental illness get the support they need and feel less lonely.
Support Stef’s efforts to improve mental health through her fundraising campaign: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/213670/stef-shuts-up-8th-year
View Stef’s previous campaigns here: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018