Grace Curtis: Love, Loss & Learning to Live Again After Heartbreak

When she was just 22, Grace Curtis’s life changed forever. Her dad, John, died by suicide. In this deeply moving episode of Moments That Matter, Grace shares her story with courage, honesty, and generosity. She speaks about the shock and trauma of losing a parent, the lonely “what ifs” that followed, and the slow, painful journey through grief. Grace also opens up about the people who helped her through tough times, the two young women who became her lifeline, and the powerful lessons she’s learned about compassion, community, and grief. This episode is for anyone who has lost someone they love, anyone supporting a grieving friend or whānau member, and anyone who needs to hear that joy can return - even when it feels impossible. In this episode: ⬛ The moment Grace’s life changed forever ⬛ The physical and emotional shock of trauma ⬛ Navigating the heavy “what ifs” that follow suicide ⬛ How grief can feel isolating - and how to support someone through it ⬛ The unexpected friendships that helped Grace heal ⬛ Why reaching out (even when you don’t want to) can change everything ⬛ Losing someone you love - and finding meaning again ⬛ How profound grief can become a gift ⬛ Keeping a loved one’s memory alive 00:00 Intro 01:08 Advice from dad 02:05 Her dad 04:16 Her dad's passing 06:42 The days after 07:42 The "what ifs" 08:27 Grief 10:03 Advice for people supporting others 11:02 Advice for managing grief 13:03 Community 15:37 Mental health in rural communities 17:02 Advocacy 18:09 The best is yet to come 21:53 Accepting loss 22:40 Keeping her dad's memory alive 23:21 Outro 💬 “Whatever you’re going through, keep going through it. People care about this, and people care about you.” Moments That Matter, hosted by Jehan Casinader, uncovers real stories of resilience, wellbeing, and the pivotal moments that changed lives. For more resources and tools to support your wellbeing, head to https://mentalhealth.org.nz/wellbeing-hub