September 25, 2024 • 8 mins
For Mental Health Week, we sit down with Jazz Thornton—mental health activist, author, speaker, TikToker, and filmmaker. Join us for an inspiring conversation!
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
More links to help here: https://mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
With the John and Ben podcast chairs to Dilma making
the World a better tea.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Great to have you on again. We're having you on weekly.
At the moment, do we start paying you? What's going on?
Ben deals with the Yeah, it's a.
Speaker 4 (00:15):
Bit backed out the invoices at the moment, but I'll
get around to it at some stage.
Speaker 5 (00:19):
Hey, now, Jairs, mental Health Awareness Week.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Obviously, you couldn't think of anyone more perfect to speak
to on a week such as this, So thank you
very much for coming on with thought. We're just trying
maybe get some some helpful tips and things off you
for people who might be going through some stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, of course absolutely. I mean the very first thing
and the biggest thing at the moment for me that
I'm being so intentional about post COVID lockdowns, which I
feel bad even saying the word COVID, but as human
connection has been a big thing being so intentional about,
like catching up with friends, going out, having coffee, getting
off my damn devices, because I think we've been lacking
human connection for so long now that it's kind of
(00:55):
become normal to just do it through a screen. So
that's probably been It's been a huge one for me
over the last little while is making sure I'm prioritizing
that and relationships.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Has been a big thing because you know, someone who
does spend probably a lot of their life on social
media for what you do, you know, you do a
lot of TikTok and Instagram and social media stuff. It's
probably hard to find that balance sometimes, I say, even
for you.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Right, Oh, absolutely, my screen time is horrific, Like we
don't even need to look at my screen time, but
it's so bad. And I think we're also having like
everything's easy to just like face time and zoom. But
I think that makes us a lot more disconnected from
those kind of more personal relationships. So something I've been
a lot more intentional about at the moment.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
I think after COVID, we all just thought we'd go
back to normal when we'd get used to it. But
maybe it's a conscious effort we have to make to
actually make time to physically meet our friends.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Oh, I think that our threshold has gone down. I
think that it's taken out, like the ability to just
actually be with someone. And so yeah, I think it's
actually been harder than people anticipated aren't seeing differends as
much as they would before COVID.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
I won't lie. There was a bit of me that
was pretty happy not having to see people.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I'm an I tell you, can.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
We talk about you know, there's people in your life
that have helped you, you know, to get to where
you are now. Doctor Steph is someone that I know,
through talking to you, has been really special with you
and someone you're still friends with today.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah. Yeah, she was a huge part of my journey.
She was kind of the doctor that ultimately I will
credit saving my life many years ago. And now it's
kind of just become part of the family, which has
been so amazing. And we've worked so much together kind
of around the world now, which has been crazy. But
having that person who is willing to kind of walk
(02:45):
with you through the fire and then kind of, you know,
be able to celebrate with you on the other side
has been huge and such a big thing for me
as well, to not as people walk out and leave,
which you know, can be a fear if you're going
to tell someone what's going on that you feel lifely
gonna walk out or it's going to be too much.
But she's stuck by me, and it really meant.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
I was just to say, because you know, we do
talk a lot, and it's very important about your own
mental health, but what you can also do for other
people like you having that doctor Steph as well, you
know that someone who helped you at the time as
a young kid to get through a really horrible stage
of your life. It was you know, it's hugely important
and it's amazing to see that you're still friends.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Your holiday together, we do, we do.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
We just look to fig for a fiftieth which was
so fun and so like we were both just sitting
there like, what the heck? We didn't think I would
let alone be here, you know, and then be in
cig to get to go on holiday and it's wild.
But we're very thankful to still be here.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
We all have friends who have been through mental health issues.
If you haven't been through them yourself, how you approach
that conversation too.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
If you know someone's going through a tough time, if
you are that person having a tough time, do you
want to be spoken to or is it better to
wait until they broach the topic.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I don't think wait. I think that there's so much
pressure on telling people to ask for help and not
enough of telling people to reach in. I think that
having like in New Zealand, we've created the one kind
of sentence starter to be able to have these conversations.
We've scripted it out of it, which is like how
are you young?
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Good?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Thanks? How are you moving on with your day? And
we don't know what to do when someone breaks the
script and so being able to like literally like someone
says I'm not good, We're like, that's not being able to,
you know, be like no, like how are you really doing?
And even if they're not open with you at the start,
like that consistency will enable them one day when they
feel like you need to talk to know that you're there.
(04:35):
I think if we step two around it, we're afraid
of asking the questions, then we're just putting all of
the pressure on the people that are struggling to ask
for help, rather than trying to create spaces for them
to do so. I agree.
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Like when I had a moment like years ago, I
was dropping hints to lots of people. No one either
they got the hint and they didn't want to say anything,
or they just didn't get it. And then in the
end my partner was the one that was are you okay?
And there was a bit of relief, being like, oh no, actually,
finally someone's got the hint, because I don't know when's
(05:08):
the right moment because you feel like a burden. Who
do you want to go? No, I'm not okay, you know,
So I think I agree, like it's good. It's definitely
good for people to ask your.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Mates one hundred percent. And I do think like asking
for help is obviously such a huge thing. But I
also think that we know that we're telling that every
single day. We're always telling people to reach it out.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So I feel like, you know, it will always continue
to say that messaging, but it's just as important, Like
mental health is not just something that is on the
shoulders of those currently dealing with it. It's everyone's responsibility.
We're all the ones that have to chicken on those
around us.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And so yeah, I think it makes the weight of
it a little bit lighter knowing that we're all in
it to get it.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Well.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
It's one thing today that people could try for their
mental health. There's the one thing you can recommend obviously
getting off your device or limiting that as a good one.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Yeah, that's definitely a good one. And the other one
that I was so offended to find out actually worked
was buddy, getting out and exercising and getting outside. Like
I think, especially if you're in office jobs and stuff
like that as well, you get so wrapped up and
everything that's kind of going on in computer screen and
blah blah blah. But even getting outside for like five
(06:17):
ten minutes, you never underestimate that, Like I think that obviously,
if you're in like a higher crisis hearing that is
like that's not going to do anything. But when you're
struggling with anxiety all things that are going on in
your brain, getting outside, don't ever underestimate the power of that.
Like it's get outside for five minutes, leave your office
if you're allowed to, and just go get some fresh air.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Tuesday dinner. What office you work and we chained to
this desk.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
We can't even see outside.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Tell us what it looks like out there?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Is it daylight?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Because I mean, obviously you're like everyone else chairs and
you probably still have days which are better than others
and some that are worse than others.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Absolutely. Yeah, I actually just had my new season my
podcast just came out to that talked about a bigger
experience that happened last year of having to kind of
re goo back to the drawing board and having to
relearn how to fight again and realizing that recovery is
not linear and sometimes we just have to fight a
little bit harder than before and that's okay, Like it's okay,
(07:16):
and it's normal, a big the same as beating yourself
up for getting a sprained ankle twice. Like it happens,
and we just have to, you know, pick ourselves back
up and go back to the things that we know
of asking for help and all of those kind of
everything I tell people to do every day and having
to reach myself.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
That is that hard for you.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Though, because you're the public face of it and then
you're like, oh, now I'm having to go through it again.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, yeah, it was. I mean I didn't talk about
it for a while. I got it was pretty dark
last year, and I only had just talked about it
now because you don't want to let people down and
I know how many people have found hope and my story,
so there was so much more pressure to make sure
that I got up and got through it again. And
I couldn't have done it without the people around me.
(08:01):
But it was really interesting because my therapist actually, sorry,
I'm learning for a second here, But my therapist said
at the time, I was like, I don't understand how
I'm back here again and I'm feeling all these things again.
And she just said, Jazz, the feelings are the same,
but your response is different, Like you have grown so
much more than you think, so you're asking for hell earlier,
you're doing these things. And it was really validating for
(08:22):
me to hear, Oh, that's good.
Speaker 6 (08:24):
You're never letting us down, but you know, feeling however
you feel, it's all valid and you're not letting anyone
down by any mean.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
But I completely understand why you'd put that pressure on
yoursel phone.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Yeah, we got there. We got there. Now. I'm actually
currently sitting outside my therapist's office as we speak. Therapy
is good. It's everyone to go it.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Well, geez, I hope she doesn't charge by the minute
because we've held you off.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Hope is real.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
With Jazz Thornton new podcast series is out now on
iHeart Radio wherever you get your podcasts from.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
In jas it's always a pleasure talking with you.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Thank you so much, well, thank you guys.
With the John and Ben podcast chairs to Dilma making
the World a better tea.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Great to have you on again. We're having you on weekly.
At the moment, do we start paying you? What's going on?
Ben deals with the Yeah, it's a.
Speaker 4 (00:15):
Bit backed out the invoices at the moment, but I'll
get around to it at some stage.
Speaker 5 (00:19):
Hey, now, Jairs, mental Health Awareness Week.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Obviously, you couldn't think of anyone more perfect to speak
to on a week such as this, So thank you
very much for coming on with thought. We're just trying
maybe get some some helpful tips and things off you
for people who might be going through some stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, of course absolutely. I mean the very first thing
and the biggest thing at the moment for me that
I'm being so intentional about post COVID lockdowns, which I
feel bad even saying the word COVID, but as human
connection has been a big thing being so intentional about,
like catching up with friends, going out, having coffee, getting
off my damn devices, because I think we've been lacking
human connection for so long now that it's kind of
(00:55):
become normal to just do it through a screen. So
that's probably been It's been a huge one for me
over the last little while is making sure I'm prioritizing
that and relationships.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Has been a big thing because you know, someone who
does spend probably a lot of their life on social
media for what you do, you know, you do a
lot of TikTok and Instagram and social media stuff. It's
probably hard to find that balance sometimes, I say, even
for you.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Right, Oh, absolutely, my screen time is horrific, Like we
don't even need to look at my screen time, but
it's so bad. And I think we're also having like
everything's easy to just like face time and zoom. But
I think that makes us a lot more disconnected from
those kind of more personal relationships. So something I've been
a lot more intentional about at the moment.
Speaker 6 (01:38):
I think after COVID, we all just thought we'd go
back to normal when we'd get used to it. But
maybe it's a conscious effort we have to make to
actually make time to physically meet our friends.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Oh, I think that our threshold has gone down. I
think that it's taken out, like the ability to just
actually be with someone. And so yeah, I think it's
actually been harder than people anticipated aren't seeing differends as
much as they would before COVID.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
I won't lie. There was a bit of me that
was pretty happy not having to see people.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I'm an I tell you, can.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
We talk about you know, there's people in your life
that have helped you, you know, to get to where
you are now. Doctor Steph is someone that I know,
through talking to you, has been really special with you
and someone you're still friends with today.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah. Yeah, she was a huge part of my journey.
She was kind of the doctor that ultimately I will
credit saving my life many years ago. And now it's
kind of just become part of the family, which has
been so amazing. And we've worked so much together kind
of around the world now, which has been crazy. But
having that person who is willing to kind of walk
(02:45):
with you through the fire and then kind of, you know,
be able to celebrate with you on the other side
has been huge and such a big thing for me
as well, to not as people walk out and leave,
which you know, can be a fear if you're going
to tell someone what's going on that you feel lifely
gonna walk out or it's going to be too much.
But she's stuck by me, and it really meant.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
I was just to say, because you know, we do
talk a lot, and it's very important about your own
mental health, but what you can also do for other
people like you having that doctor Steph as well, you
know that someone who helped you at the time as
a young kid to get through a really horrible stage
of your life. It was you know, it's hugely important
and it's amazing to see that you're still friends.
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Your holiday together, we do, we do.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
We just look to fig for a fiftieth which was
so fun and so like we were both just sitting
there like, what the heck? We didn't think I would
let alone be here, you know, and then be in
cig to get to go on holiday and it's wild.
But we're very thankful to still be here.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
We all have friends who have been through mental health issues.
If you haven't been through them yourself, how you approach
that conversation too.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
If you know someone's going through a tough time, if
you are that person having a tough time, do you
want to be spoken to or is it better to
wait until they broach the topic.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I don't think wait. I think that there's so much
pressure on telling people to ask for help and not
enough of telling people to reach in. I think that
having like in New Zealand, we've created the one kind
of sentence starter to be able to have these conversations.
We've scripted it out of it, which is like how
are you young?
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Good?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Thanks? How are you moving on with your day? And
we don't know what to do when someone breaks the
script and so being able to like literally like someone
says I'm not good, We're like, that's not being able to,
you know, be like no, like how are you really doing?
And even if they're not open with you at the start,
like that consistency will enable them one day when they
feel like you need to talk to know that you're there.
(04:35):
I think if we step two around it, we're afraid
of asking the questions, then we're just putting all of
the pressure on the people that are struggling to ask
for help, rather than trying to create spaces for them
to do so. I agree.
Speaker 6 (04:47):
Like when I had a moment like years ago, I
was dropping hints to lots of people. No one either
they got the hint and they didn't want to say anything,
or they just didn't get it. And then in the
end my partner was the one that was are you okay?
And there was a bit of relief, being like, oh no, actually,
finally someone's got the hint, because I don't know when's
(05:08):
the right moment because you feel like a burden. Who
do you want to go? No, I'm not okay, you know,
So I think I agree, like it's good. It's definitely
good for people to ask your.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Mates one hundred percent. And I do think like asking
for help is obviously such a huge thing. But I
also think that we know that we're telling that every
single day. We're always telling people to reach it out.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So I feel like, you know, it will always continue
to say that messaging, but it's just as important, Like
mental health is not just something that is on the
shoulders of those currently dealing with it. It's everyone's responsibility.
We're all the ones that have to chicken on those
around us.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And so yeah, I think it makes the weight of
it a little bit lighter knowing that we're all in
it to get it.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Well.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
It's one thing today that people could try for their
mental health. There's the one thing you can recommend obviously
getting off your device or limiting that as a good one.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Yeah, that's definitely a good one. And the other one
that I was so offended to find out actually worked
was buddy, getting out and exercising and getting outside. Like
I think, especially if you're in office jobs and stuff
like that as well, you get so wrapped up and
everything that's kind of going on in computer screen and
blah blah blah. But even getting outside for like five
(06:17):
ten minutes, you never underestimate that, Like I think that obviously,
if you're in like a higher crisis hearing that is
like that's not going to do anything. But when you're
struggling with anxiety all things that are going on in
your brain, getting outside, don't ever underestimate the power of that.
Like it's get outside for five minutes, leave your office
if you're allowed to, and just go get some fresh air.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Tuesday dinner. What office you work and we chained to
this desk.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
We can't even see outside.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
Tell us what it looks like out there?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Is it daylight?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Because I mean, obviously you're like everyone else chairs and
you probably still have days which are better than others
and some that are worse than others.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Absolutely. Yeah, I actually just had my new season my
podcast just came out to that talked about a bigger
experience that happened last year of having to kind of
re goo back to the drawing board and having to
relearn how to fight again and realizing that recovery is
not linear and sometimes we just have to fight a
little bit harder than before and that's okay, Like it's okay,
(07:16):
and it's normal, a big the same as beating yourself
up for getting a sprained ankle twice. Like it happens,
and we just have to, you know, pick ourselves back
up and go back to the things that we know
of asking for help and all of those kind of
everything I tell people to do every day and having
to reach myself.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
That is that hard for you.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Though, because you're the public face of it and then
you're like, oh, now I'm having to go through it again.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, yeah, it was. I mean I didn't talk about
it for a while. I got it was pretty dark
last year, and I only had just talked about it
now because you don't want to let people down and
I know how many people have found hope and my story,
so there was so much more pressure to make sure
that I got up and got through it again. And
I couldn't have done it without the people around me.
(08:01):
But it was really interesting because my therapist actually, sorry,
I'm learning for a second here, But my therapist said
at the time, I was like, I don't understand how
I'm back here again and I'm feeling all these things again.
And she just said, Jazz, the feelings are the same,
but your response is different, Like you have grown so
much more than you think, so you're asking for hell earlier,
you're doing these things. And it was really validating for
(08:22):
me to hear, Oh, that's good.
Speaker 6 (08:24):
You're never letting us down, but you know, feeling however
you feel, it's all valid and you're not letting anyone
down by any mean.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
But I completely understand why you'd put that pressure on
yoursel phone.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Yeah, we got there. We got there. Now. I'm actually
currently sitting outside my therapist's office as we speak. Therapy
is good. It's everyone to go it.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Well, geez, I hope she doesn't charge by the minute
because we've held you off.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Hope is real.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
With Jazz Thornton new podcast series is out now on
iHeart Radio wherever you get your podcasts from.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
In jas it's always a pleasure talking with you.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Thank you so much, well, thank you guys.
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