Our story

In 2018, our journey at 20Talk commenced with personal tragedy. Founders Leighton Bradfield and Lockie O'Donoghue were confronted with the devastating loss of two close friends to suicide within a mere two months. Struggling with their own battles and intimately acquainted with the complexities of mental health, Leighton and Lockie made a pivotal decision. They chose to channel their grief, experiences, and a shared commitment into a transformative mission — to establish an evidence-based charity platform that resonated with and supported young people

In contemporary society, young adults face a multitude of challenges, and the journey into adulthood can be overwhelming. 20Talk was born out of the recognition that the current mental health education system is clunky, unrelatable, and overly abundant, leaving many young people uncertain about whom to trust. Disturbingly, only 2% of mental health funding is directed towards prevention charities, while 98% is allocated to interventions and crisis management. This imbalance contributes to a pervasive sense of unpreparedness among young individuals to navigate life's challenges, with suicide standing as the leading cause of death for those aged 15-44 in Australia.

Our purpose at 20Talk goes beyond conventional mental health support. We strive to empower young adults aged 18-30 by integrating essential mental health tools and skills into their lives. Our mission is to be the most relatable mental health charity of the 21st century, challenging the status quo and redefining the approach to mental health education..