Meet Jannine – championing culturally responsive mental health for South Asian youth
Jannine Nock is a passionate kaimahi in the mental health sector, drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience to advocate for South Asian children and adolescents in Aotearoa.
With deep insight into the cultural and systemic barriers that often leave these communities underserved, Jannine is committed to creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Through her project Hi DiDi, a Hindi term meaning “big sister”, Jannine is developing a powerful children’s book series that uses culturally sensitive storytelling to dismantle stigma and promote mental health literacy within South Asian families. The stories will reflect the real experiences of tamariki navigating mental distress, encouraging open conversations, emotional understanding, and culturally grounded support.
Hi DiDi aims to bridge the gap between traditional beliefs and modern mental health care by:
- Challenging discrimination and stigma within families.
- Promoting emotional literacy and open dialogue.
- Providing accessible, culturally resonant resources for whānau, schools, and health professionals.
Jannine’s vision is bold and necessary: to ensure no South Asian child or young person falls through the cracks of a system not built with them in mind. Her work embodies the spirit of the Puna Pūtea | Social Action Grants and the wider Nōku te Ao kaupapa centering community-led solutions, equity, and manaakitanga to transform mental health outcomes for all.
Jannine is not only telling stories, she’s changing them.