On Monday March 11, the Herald will release Jessica's Tree, a five part series about suicide and mental health funded by NZ On Air.
The series shares the account of two girls who are battling for life; 23 year old Director Jazz Thornton survived her own attempts to take her life but lost her friend Jess to suicide.
In Jessica's Tree, Thornton revisits the last 24 hours of Jess' life, talking to those who were closest to her to find out what light Jess' death can shed on how we can and should change our view of suicide as a community.
Planning Editor Andrew Laxon says that while the series covers some sobering topics, the courage of Thornton is inspiring and leaves the viewers with hope.
"The statistics around mental health and suicide in particular in New Zealand are devastating. Jessica's Tree gives a voice to those who have been directly impacted by suicide and we are proud to provide a platform for such an important and change-provoking series. Our hope is that this project resonates with New Zealand and starts to shift perceptions around suicide."
