Counselor Fights mental Illness With Comedy

Most people think you have to be nuts to do stand-up comedy. However, counsellor and stand-up comic David Granirer offers it as a form of therapy. Granirer is the founder of "Comedy Courage," a course where people with mental illness turn their problems into comedy, then perform their acts at a gala showcase.

Vancouver, B.C. (PRWEB) April 28, 2004 --- Most people think you have to be nuts to do stand-up comedy. However, counsellor and stand-up comic David Granirer offers it as a form of therapy.

Granirer is the founder of "Comedy Courage," a course where people with mental illness turn their problems into comedy, then perform their acts at a gala showcase.

"Doing comedy about their illness will build participants self-esteem and help reduce public stigma around mental illness," says Granirer.

"The people in this course all tell me that humour is what helped them survive when their lives were falling apart. Now they want to use it to empower and inspire others."

Darcy James Goral, a graduate of Davids Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course, leads promotions and is co-founder of Comedy Courage. "I've been through the mental health system, and David's course is the best therapy I've ever had," states Goral.

"Telling my story through comedy knocked out the shame I'd been carrying for 10 years."

The course, which began February 3, culminates in the First Annual Comedy Courage Gala Showcase at the Downtown Sandman Hotel on May 5, 2004.

But its been a struggle to make their vision of healing people through humour come true. "We receive no government funding, and weve put hundreds of unpaid hours into making this happen.

While the government has made cuts to mental health services, the media and the corporate sector have been most supportive of this endeavour. John L. Daly from Global TV will be hosting the gala showcase and Joey Thompson from the Province is the live auctioneer, while corporate sponsors include Sandman Hotels, Staples, Coast Capital Savings, OK Tires, Hewlett Packard, and Interwest Restaurants (an independent franchisee of Wendys and Tim Hortons.) Comedy Courage is also sponsored by the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society.

For six months after the showcase, participants will spread their message of hope and empowerment by performing monthly at selected mental health venues, conferences and treatment centres. For more information or to purchase tickets to the gala go to http://www.comedycourage.com.

For more information:

David Granirer MA, Registered Professional Counsellor

(604) 205-9242 david@psychocomic.com

http://www.psychocomic.com    

Photos available.