Stand-up show about mental health: Healing by Feeling Funny

British men struggling with mental health open up through stand-up comedy. "Healing by Feeling Funny" is a mental health project implemented in the UK, created by the organizations Comedy on Referral and Rethink Mental Illness and funded by the NHS.. We’re not kidding!

The British social system is bold enough to try out-of-the-box solutions that could help people overcome their difficulties. The idea of a “social prescription” is in use: instead of asking at the doctor’s office, “What’s the matter with you?”, they also ask, “What matters to you?”. This complements the traditional treatment with various social activities that could positively impact a person’s wellbeing. Therefore, from a specialist’s office, one might leave not only with a prescription for medicine but also a referral to join hiking groups, art exhibitions, cooking classes, or even a comedy writing course.

Over a ten-week stand-up training course, participants of “Healing by Feeling Funny” learned to create and perform their personal stories in a stand-up format that culminated in a show at the famous London Comedy Store. Guided by the experienced writer and stand-up comedian Angie Belcher, the men supported each other, spoke openly about their mental health and brought important, yet delicate topics to the audience. The broader goal of the project is to reduce the number of suicides in the UK to zero.

“Ten amazing weeks followed by the performance of a lifetime. I’m a changed man.”

“What’s making me happy is that my sons are now paraphrasing some of my jokes, and we’re telling jokes more. . . this is one of the biggest changes in my life.”

This stand-up show is in English.

UK stand-up show about mental health: “Healing by feeling funny” is part of the project “Stand Up For Your Mind” lead by Peaasi.ee and Kinoteater. The project is a part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 main programme.

Doors will open at 17:30.

If you need any help in accessing the show with wheelchair, please let us know beforehand by writing to [email protected]. We need to use a bit of manpower.

European Capital of Culture is supported by A. Le Coq, Delfi Meedia, Topauto and Lux ​​Express