Video Transcription

Conversations about mental health and culture

Hi, I’m Lee Han, and I’m Chinese Australian.
Hi, I’m Emanuel, and I’m from West Africa, Ghana.
Hi, I’m Anas, and I’m Muslim South African.

In my community, mental health isn’t something that’s openly discussed. It’s often seen as taboo, especially because it’s believed that talking about it could bring bad luck or make you undesirable, like you might stay single forever. While things are slowly changing, it’s still a very hard topic to bring up, especially in public.

For the youth in my community, there’s a growing understanding. Mental health is becoming more openly discussed, and as I’ve started to discover myself and learn to cope with my mental health issues, my friends have come to me about theirs. They feel like I won’t judge them or misunderstand them, which is a fear they have with their parents.

For me, I speak Chinese at home, but my Chinese isn’t fluent enough to fully explain concepts like mental health. For example, when trying to describe depression, I might only have the word for “sad.” That lack of language can make it difficult to explain what I’m feeling or start conversations in my community. However, there’s progress—people are beginning to acknowledge mental health struggles and develop the vocabulary to discuss these experiences more openly.

[Music]

In my community, events like soccer matches bring everyone together. We forget our differences, celebrate, dance, and feel united. That sense of resilience—bouncing back from challenges or adversity—is something I’m really proud of.

For me, food is what ties my community together. Unlike some communities bound by faith or religion, food becomes our connection. It’s a way we express love and care. Parents might not say “I love you,” but they’ll bring you food, which is their way of showing they care.

The strengths and values in my community are generosity and unity. When someone is in need, people show up and support each other.

If you’re struggling, talk to someone you trust—someone with experience in dealing with similar issues. But if you feel like there’s no one you can trust, find a creative outlet. For me, art and writing were my safe spaces. Expressing my emotions through poetry or painting helped me process what I was going through without bottling it up.

I agree with that. Drawing and writing helped me express my emotions and reflect on my thoughts, rather than keeping everything internalised.

My message is: It’s okay to feel the emotions you’re feeling. There’s no shame in experiencing these things. To be the best version of yourself, seek help, focus on self-improvement, and take steps to feel better.

Video by headspace