GiGi’s Diary
Born from a school project, GiGi’s Diary is inspiring brighter paths for rangatahi
Young people thrive when they have tools that help them express themselves, understand their emotions, and take small, meaningful steps toward wellbeing. That belief sits at the heart of GiGi’s Diary - a bright, accessible resource created by Gemma Turner and intended to make mental health support for other rangatahi/young people relatable, engaging and empowering.
When 16-year-old Gemma (nickname, GiGi) moved schools to Hutt Valley High School, life felt overwhelmingly heavy. Anxiety and depression meant she was only attending the occasional class. “There were like five or six months where I just wasn’t in school,” she recalls. The six‑month wait to see a psychologist was another barrier to recovery. “I didn’t really understand what was happening to my brain. I thought I was going kind of crazy.”
Everything shifted when she could finally access support. Her psychologist gave her worksheets - tools she initially dismissed. “I thought they were kind of stupid, like how could a piece of paper help anything?” But after giving them a chance, something changed. “When I started doing them, I realised that they really helped me get my thoughts out of my head and onto paper."
During a Year 13 Business Studies class, Gemma had the spark of an idea – to redesign traditional wellbeing worksheets so they’d be more appealing for young people, just like her. She used colour, accessible language, and visual elements that worked with her dyslexia.
“I’m a very bright and colourful visual kind of person. I remembered the feeling of being at my lowest, and that I just wanted to feel like there was some sort of light.”
What began as a school project under the Young Enterprise Scheme, quickly grew, and she was connected with a mentor who championed her work and helped her take GiGi’s Diary from concept to market. Since launching, GiGi’s Diary has sold more than 2,800 copies and raised over $14,000 to mental health causes. It’s now used in schools, health services, and homes mostly in Gemma’s hometown of Wellington, but also further afield.
Gemma is currently preparing a second, more gender‑neutral edition aimed at 15–20‑year‑olds. This time, she’s planning to donate $5 from every copy sold to support the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, whose values deeply resonate with her. “You guys have so many tools available and your prevention and advocacy work is something I really resonate with.”
Gemma is passionate about using her own experience to help other young people navigate mental health challenges, and says her biggest piece of advice to a someone else who is finding life tough, is “to take that first step and reach out to someone you trust and say you need help.”
Equally, she knows the mental health system is struggling to meet the needs of everyone who needs it, so she’s a strong advocate for better supports and resources.
Now having just turned 20 and recently moving with her boyfriend to Australia for a new experience, Gemma has learnt the tools that help her stay well.
“I will do deep breathing exercises every day and when I start feeling anxious, I'll do a grounding exercise like naming four things – something I can see, hear, touch and smell.”
Ultimately, her goal remains simple and heartfelt: “The most important thing is to help as many people as possible. Even if people just take one page from the book and find it helpful - that means everything to me.”
GiGi’s Diary – Wave Edition is available to purchase here, with $5 from every sale supporting the Mental Health Foundation.
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