Jazz Thornton

Mental health activist, film director and author of "Stop Surviving, Start Fighting"

Having overcome childhood abuse and multiple suicide attempts, Jazz Thornton has now dedicated her life to speaking hope and creating change in the area of mental health. Jazz lives by the saying “it’s not about battling your past but fighting for your future”. Jazz believes that no matter what your going through it is possible to get through it.

Jazz Thornton co-founded Voices of Hope, a mental health advocacy platform. She directed the award-winning series Jessica's Tree as well as viral video Dear Suicidal Me which gained over 80 million views.

She is the author of the best selling book "Stop Surviving, Start Fighting" and "My Journey Starts Here." Jazz's story has also been told through the feature film "The Girl on The Bridge" that premiered in 2020.

In 2019, Jazz won the Impact Award for Wellbeing and in 2021 she was named Young New Zealander of the Year.