Mental Roots video transcript

BBC Arts and Rural Media presents a production supported by Arts Council England.

Mental Roots

A group of four animated characters sit on bean bags and chairs in a room containing a table tennis table and notice board. One character leans towards another seated in a bean bag and looks to be telling a story. 

"So yeah you know how it is growing up in the ends. I was..."

A central narration interrupts the group's dialogue and the narrator (as purveyed in a first-person perspective) appears to look at his hands. 

"For a while now I've been trying to trace the roots of my mental struggle..."

An outline of branches appear on the narrator's arms and the animation transitions to a piece of paper with blank lines on. The scene opens out and it appears that the narrator is typing a word document on a laptop. Parents appear looking angry and disappointed, waving a piece of paper which shows the text 'BILL' on it. 

"Maybe it didn't start with me. Blame it on my family history and the pressure on  
me to change our destiny all mum and dad wanted was an opportunity right?"

Pieces of paper fly around the room. We see the narrator's hands against a black background push back until we're shown he is lying on a bed. 

"Aiming sky high but was it worth the flight because over here it's like we're wrong and they're right. It's like a man on our side has to work twice as hard just to keep on the lights. All this weight I'm carrying on my head just trying to keep my family proud. I guess it's no wonder that today, I'll work with some crazy level of dread.

I've gradually sunk into this deep pit of pessimism. I've never been so shook in my life. Maybe this time I can't do this on my own."

The hands begin to pick up pieces that represent countries from a globe. 

"Should I ask for help? Who am I kidding you see in a family like mine, pain is normalised all I hear is you're suffering ain't as much as mine."

An image of the narrator's parent's faces appears. They shatter and we hear the sound of broken glass. Hands pick up a mask with pieces missing. 

Oh so I'm just supposed to follow the family line of pretending I'm fine.

We see a group of animated characters against the background of tower blocks. One of the characters begins to rap: 

"When men hit these bars imma hit you in the heart once you uppercut punchlines gonna get fraud. You boys play your part..."

The narrator's voice speaks...

"You're all trapped in the same cocoon and friends get jealous if you try to fly because where we come from you're conditioned to be in survival mode, we're all sick but pretending we're well."

Hands appear in front of us as does another character whose real face becomes revealed when a piece of their mask drops on the floor, they pick up the piece and place it back on their face. 

"The ones I thought were my bros hate it when I expose the tears that I now cry because that reminds them of themselves and the demons they hide, so they cower behind a mask of pride push me to the side and frantically pursue the glamorized stereotypes of a hustler's life. You know, whatever it takes to escape the insecurity in our minds because anywhere apart from where we are is paradise, right?"

This character moves towards the group. Hands are outstretched and branches appear on the arms. 

"But you want to know what's more toxic than the stereotypes of people like us? I'll tell you it's a guy like me fed with self-hatred, slowly losing hope."

A ringing sound plays out as the video fades to black. A hand pushes through the darkness, breaking off pieces of a mask so that we can see the scene around us - the group sharing stories.

The narrator holds the mask in his hands and throws it onto the floor where it smashes into pieces. 

"Surely there is a better way for us to thrive not just to cope and to thrive. I've got to relieve myself from the weight of this mask. Because where I'm from it's time we opened up about mental health so we can truly be free."

The group look towards the narrator.

"And the change starts with me."

The angle appears to swing around and we see the narrator wipe away a tear in his eye and smile. 

Mental Roots video

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