Voices of Hope: A Moment With...

Reno is the founder and creative director of Dinosaur Club. In his candid conversation, Reno shares his deeply personal journey with mental health, driven by the loss of close friends to suicide and his own decade-long struggle with depression, anxiety, OCD, and bipolar disorder. Despite having a supportive upbringing, Reno began experiencing severe mental health challenges in his late teens, lead...

Whitney-Lee is a resilient wahine Māori who has channeled her challenging past into a powerful platform for advocacy and healing. Growing up amidst severe trauma, including abuse and instability, Whitney-Lee faced significant hardships in her early years. Whitney-Lee's journey is marked by her determination to overcome adversity, and connecting to her whakapapa and rongoā Māori. Her experiences em...

Growing up in a dysfunctional family, Paora quickly became the emotional support for both his younger and older siblings, while also navigating bullying and racism at school. The weight of these responsibilities and experiences left Paora feeling isolated, hopeless, and disconnected from a sense of belonging. For years, he coped by running from his pain, turning to substances to numb his emotions....

Mekaylar's story reflects the complexities of growing up as a first-generation New Zealander and facing cultural and family expectations. From a young age, she faced relentless bullying at school—physically, verbally, and psychologically—simply for being different. As a child navigating a strict household, Mekaylar struggled with the pressure to be perfect in everyone’s eyes, balancing the dual ro...

Brielle is a counselor who has transformed her personal journey with mental health into a powerful means of supporting others. Drawing from her own experiences with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), she has become a beacon of hope for those navigating similar challenges. Despite enduring bullying, emotional dysregulation, and a lengthy road to diagnosis, Brielle's resilience has been a drivin...

Rosy is a passionate advocate for mental health, and is currently working in corporate mental health and pursuing a psychology degree at university. Raised in Hawke's Bay, she enjoyed a happy childhood in a loving family. However, about four years ago, despite doing all the things that are supposed to help with mental health, Rosy began experiencing symptoms of depression. This struggle was compou...

Henrique's journey from Brazil to New Zealand at 13 was marked by cultural shocks and mental health struggles. Adjusting from Brazil's vibrancy to New Zealand's quiet way of life was challenging. His silent battle with mental health persisted until he opened up at 15, starting therapy and medication. Drag became his solace, offering liberation and strength to confront insecurities through Rhubarb...

Kia found solace in the kitchen after losing both parents in his teens. Working at the Avondale RSA, he found stability and purpose under the guidance of two chefs. Cooking became his refuge, offering structure amid grief. Beyond mere task, it became a way to care for others, inspiring him to mentor new chefs with a gentler approach. Kia challenges masculinity norms in Aotearoa through vulnerabili...

Lissy and Rudi are building a community for intergenerational healing. Crochet, initially a craft, soon evolved into a —a tangible medium through which they honour their tūpuna and the diversity of life experience, to foster community. Their hands weave threads that carry stories from previous generations, each stitch an ode to resilience and interconnectedness. Their home, an extension of their v...

Semi's upbringing was complex and challenging, weaving elements of both a regular childhood and the awareness of not fitting into societal norms. Having albinism meant that Semi looked markedly different, often leading to instances where others stared, made comments, or passed judgments. Societal perceptions were not often like the support she received at home, leaving Semi to grapple with mental...

Quack was raised in Panmure with their mother and four siblings. Quack’s father resided up north and his appearances were scarce, typically reserved for funerals or confrontations with their mother. Quack, a twin and the youngest in their whānau struggled to understand the complexities of their parents' relationship.  They navigated a childhood of displacement and a longing for connection to their...

Fresh out of high school, eighteen-year-old Quinn from Dannevirke dove eagerly into farm work. But as his dedication consumed him, Quinn found himself spiraling into a dark place, overworked and overwhelmed by feelings of being a burden on those around him. He planned to end his life and sent a goodbye text to his friends. Fortunately, Quinn's friends immediately responded to his message, showing...

Before anything else, Rachel is a loving mum and partner, a social worker, a DJ and a champion for social justice. Rachel describes her upbringing as “colourful and challenging”. Rachel faced adversities that shaped her life,  including experiences of sexual violence and the onset of a methamphetamine addiction at the remarkably young age of fourteen. She fell into a world of substance abuse and f...

Vikram's life has been one of navigating love, loss, and an unyielding pursuit of hope. Born and raised in Singapore, his heart was intertwined with his family, especially his beloved mum, who imparted values of resilience and compassion. Vikram's world shattered at the age of 12 when his mother passed away, leaving him feeling lost in a society that rarely discussed mental health. Amidst more hea...

Originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Vira’s journey to Aotearoa as an asylum seeker marked a radical shift from a communal, family-centric upbringing to a society starkly different in its individualistic values. Accompanied by her elder sister and mother upon arrival in New Zealand, her father joined them later in her adolescence.  Vira vividly recalls her mother's struggles, endurin...

Peleti's life embodies a powerful journey of resilience, self-discovery, and a relentless pursuit of healing not only himself but others. Through challenging personal experiences, including the tragic loss of his brother to suicide, Peleti has become a leader of hope and change.  Coming from a traditional Samoan background, Peleti witnessed a community grappling with his brother’s tragic loss in d...

Robinhood Stars and Silver Fern, Maia Kahurangi Wilson sits down to chat about the challenges on and off the court. Kirstie and Maia dive into the pressure of body image in professional netball, overcoming grief, and strengthening identity away from the netball dress. RESOURCES / SUPPORT Voices of Hope: https://thevoicesofhope.org Find Help: https://findahelpline.com Mental Health Foundation: http...

ALEX WARREN Artist | Content Creator “Sometimes the best decisions are the hard ones” Alex is recognised for his engaging presence on social media and is the creative force behind the song 'It's Not Too Late to Change Your Mind'. He's navigated a tough journey, having lost his dad early on and grown up in a difficult home environment. From facing bullying and homelessness to overcoming rehab, he o...

Dr. Courtney Tracy Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Doctor of Clinical Psychology in California "I learnt that I didn't need to hurt myself, just because I was hurting." Dr. Courtney Tracy, also known as "The Truth Doctor," is a USC-trained licensed clinical social worker (93285), doctor of clinical psychology, autistic human, recovered borderline, and the founder of the Truth Doctor, a mental we...

Jack Salt's professional basketball career in the US quickly came to an end due to illness, forcing him to move back home to Aotearoa. He opens up about the impact injury and illness had on his mental health, and explores the tools he used, and still uses today, to get through his lowest moments.   RESOURCES / SUPPORT Voices of Hope: https://thevoicesofhope.org Find Help: https://findahelpline.com...

Former All Black rugby player Adam Thomson shares his inspiring story of overcoming a life-threatening illness while in a foreign country and his subsequent journey of recovery. He openly discusses the challenges he faced and the valuable lessons he learned, which significantly influenced his role as a coach. RESOURCES / SUPPORT Voices of Hope: https://thevoicesofhope.org Find Help: https://findah...

Jazz Thornton Co-Founder Of Voices Of Hope | Award Winning Author & Director | Public Speaker and Content Creator “Your illness is not your identity. There is hope for you.” Jazz Thornton wears many hats – co-founder of Voices of Hope, author, speaker, content creator, and filmmaker. She's known for bravely sharing her own experiences with depression, childhood sexual abuse, and ADHD, becoming...

Former Paralympic athlete Tayla Clement shares her powerful journey of resilience, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. She delves into overcoming mental health challenges, finding a sense of purpose through rugby, and becoming an advocate for improved representation in the world of sports. RESOURCES / SUPPORT Voices of Hope: https://thevoicesofhope.org Find Help: https://findahelpline.com Mental...

Professional Boxer and MMA fighter, Alrie Meleisea, joins Kirstie to talk about her journey of getting into the ring and the challenges that have shaped her into who she is today. Alrie shares the grief she experienced, and how her challenges have given her the skills to overcome whatever is thrown her way. RESOURCES / SUPPORT Voices of Hope: https://thevoicesofhope.org Find Help: https://findahel...

Anna Muller Life Coach | Speaker | Content Creator “Let’s just try one more time.” Anna Muller is a life coach, speaker, content creator and mum. She is best known for her tik tok where she talks openly about her own struggles with the intention of helping others through their own journey. In this piece she shares her battles with substance abuse addiction, targeted bullying, and depression. Havin...