Having established its roots in WA over the past eight years, Fremantle-based youth mental health charity 20Talk plans to expand to the eastern states in the coming year.

The not-for-profit works to bring relatable mental health education to Australia’s young people.

Founded in 2017 by Lachlan O’Donoghue and Leighton Bradfield, 20Talk aims to challenge stigmatised mental health, the confrontation of ‘taboo’ mental health topics being a primary motive for the charity.

20Talk shares content through social media, delivering real mental health stories that young people are facing. The charity collaborates with clinical psychologists to provide free mental health training for young people, focused on maintaining wellbeing and teaching preventative strategies.

Mr O’Donoghue said taboo mental health topics shouldn’t be socially hidden:

He said being a part of the youth demographic has helped 20Talk connect with the young people they aim to aid.

All of the 20Talk trainers are between the ages of 20 and 25, in order to align with their community.

Based in Walyalup/Fremantle, 20Talk’s outreach has gone beyond Australian youth, engaging young people globally through their online content.

Mr O’Donoghue said: “We had an email come through from a teenager in Chicago who said they watch our videos every day and they help them get through what they’re dealing with.

“To me that was the big switch; we’re not just helping people from Freo, we’re helping people from the other side of the world.”

Current statistics from the World Health Organisation show depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of disability and illness in adolescents, 10–19-year-old’s accounting for 15 per cent of the mental illness affected demographic.

20Talk is focused on supporting young people through the vulnerable stage of adolescence and beyond.

Associate professor of psychology at UWA and clinical psychologist Kristin Gainey said young people around adolescent age tend to experience mental health issues at higher rates.

Dr Gainey has worked with 20Talk, providing resources for mental health training programs. She said information perceived to be coming from a source we feel connected to can have a greater impact on recipients.

She stressed the importance of preventative strategies in avoiding the development of mental health conditions and reserving crisis resources for those with severe symptoms.

“If prevention can avert at least some of those people from going on to develop disorders there is a positive impact, not just for them but also in terms of societal resources,” she said.

Budget commitments by the Western Australian Mental Health Commission show a decrease in funding for mental health prevention services. While the overall federal mental health budget is to see a 5.61 per cent increase in 2025–2026, prevention funding is said to decrease.

20Talk aims to fill these gaps, funded primarily by corporate grants and fundraisers, prioritising mental health prevention is their mission.

20Talk volunteer and event participant April Hulten, 20, said 20Talk had built an accessible space for young people to engage with mental health resources.

Ms Hulten was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at age 14. She said the sense of community and representation 20Talk fosters, has supported her mental health during OCD flare-ups.

“Sometimes just going and looking at their content could be enough to make me feel like it’s not just me fighting this battle,” she said.

Mr O’Donoghue said: “The next phase for us is having our training go over East.”

For more information and support head to 20talk.com.au or talk to a health professional.