Grace is a 26 year old mental health advocate from New Zealand, which came about after being bereaved by suicide in 2020. Her dad, a farmer, took his life in January of that year which turned her life upside down. Grace has dealt with many instances of bereavement, but nothing compared to the loss of a family member to suicide.
Grace completed a Bachelor’s of Laws and Arts, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Psychology in 2022 and has been working as a political advisor to Ministers in the current New Zealand Government.
Her advocacy comes from a place of lived experience, but she has high hopes to combine her lived experience with evidence-based practises to ensure the suicide losses in New Zealand are significantly reduced due to the flow-on effects and implications on society. As she continues to navigate bereavement, she finds the greatest pleasure in contributing to the improvement of mental health services and access across New Zealand.
