Since the untimely passing of Ben Raemers in 2019 the skateboard world took it upon itself to kick start a mental health movement, to draw attention to the issues and problems that people face and how it affects their lives. Back in December Vice posted Talking and Skating, which is part of a new documentary series centered around mental health stories from the skateboarding world.

The first of which is focused on Polish skater and artist Gonzi who picked up a skateboard at the age of five and started hanging out with older skaters in his hometown of Lodz, exposing him to a life of parties and drug use at a young age. He smoked his first joint at 13, and was 17 when he experienced a psychotic break due to drug use and was diagnosed with borderline paranoid schizophrenia. He thanks skateboarding, his friends, and art for still being here today.

Filmed & Directed by Tim Crawley.