What better way for people to deal with anxiety than to stand in front of an audience in an intimate setting and try to make them laugh.
That is what David Granirer, a mental health advocate and stand-up comedian, is hoping to accomplish with his project Stand Up for Mental Health.
Granirer says he has been able to apply his method of using comedy to fight the public stigma of mental health.
There will be six comedians on stage at Daft Brewing on Princess St in Kingston this Sunday night delivering their material. Everyone participating in the project undergoes eight weeks of virtual training where they work on and develop their material.
Granirer says more often than not, people who have fears of public speaking or standing on stage in front of people are at times the best comedians.
Granirer says people who come to this show will see the other side of mental health.
He says the fact that the comedians all experienced a mental health crisis makes for great stand-up material.
The event in Kingston is a fundraiser for Addictions Mental Health Services – Kingston Frontenac Lennox Addington.
A show is schedule for this Saturday night in Belleville.
Tickets can be purchased by going to the Stand Up for Mental Health website.
Story by Ken Hashizume
