Cracking Up airs Thursday, August 30 at 9 pm on CBC's DOC ZONE

People say laughter is the best medicine, but can it be used to treat severe mental illness? Exploring the therapy of laughter, Cracking Up provides a compelling view of how comedy can change the mind of an individual and the thoughts of a society.

Cracking Up, premiering on Thursday, August 30 at 9pm on CBC's DOC ZONE, follows the story of 11 courageous people who stand up for their mental health-literally! Using laughter as a form of therapy, counselor and comedian David Granirer trains these individuals who suffer from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and manic depression, to confront their problems through stand-up comedy. While learning to laugh at themselves, they get to share their stories and address public stigma with an audience that has a lot to learn about mental disorders.

Giving a face to mental illness, this documentary introduces audiences to inspiring individuals, such as Michael Warren who has both bi-polar disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Michael couldn't speak properly until he was a teenager, but it hasn't deterred him from his dream to become a stand-up comedian. Likewise, Paul Decarie suffered traumatic injury to his brain and spine after falling off a second story balcony when he was two years old, but he too is determined to attain a career as a professional actor and stand-up comedian. Eufemia Fantetti has battled clinical depression for most of her life, yet she is striving to find her long lost sense of humour. Sufferer of schizophrenia, Robbie Engelquist uses his creativity and the unusual voices inside his head as inspiration for his jokes. Each of their stories provokes viewers to reevaluate their perceptions and biases towards people with mental illness.

From the first fumbles of the microphone, to their one-on-one performances in front of the mirror, to their sold out graduation show at one of Vancouver's biggest theatres, Cracking Up takes viewers on a quirky journey through the unique perspectives of some remarkable people.

Granirer, author of The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead to Happiness and Success, founded Stand Up for Mental Health in Vancouver to help people with mental disorders build self-esteem and fight public stigma. Now, his program is offered in Chilliwack, Courtenay, Toronto, Ottawa, and Granirer travels the country bringing it to other cities. As a pioneer in the use of comedy as therapy, Granirer gives those with mental illness a voice and a stage to tell their stories. This emotionally moving documentary changes peoples' views of mental illness, provides them with hope, and most importantly, makes them laugh.

View clip (click on productions in top menu)

Mike has made numerous appearances on Just For Laughs. He has also starred in three well received and critically acclaimed specials for the CBC in Canada and for Showtime in the U.S.: "Mike MacDonald: On Target", "My House! My Rules!" and "Happy As I Can Be". Recently Mike hosted his own CBC special, "Mike MacDonald's Politically Correct Christmas Special," and starred in "The Rogers Cable," a 10-minute short that appeared at the Cannes Film Festival. Mike continues to tour across Canada and the U.S., and is currently working on a variety of feature film projects.

We're also thrilled to have Mike because he suffers from bipolar disorder, and he's a great role model for what people with a mental illness can achieve. Mike was diagnosed about 11 years ago and deals with his condition by taking his medication without fail. Mike says, "It's important to show that conditions such as mine, when dealt with properly, can allow a person to function normally in their jobs." He also says, "Comedy keeps me from going completely insane--Either you laugh or you cry at a lot of the world."

This is our big fundraiser for the year that enables us to keep the program going. Tickets are $39.50, and available through Ticketmaster You can also call them at (604) 280-4444. Or contact David (604) 205-9242

We are also having a live and silent auction at our event. If you have anything to donate please contact our event planner Janice Bannister (604) 529-1741

September 2005: Vancouver Mayor and future Senator Larry Campbell agrees to MC our 2005 Graduation Showcase at the Granville Island Stage on November 20 at 7:00 p.m. All funds raised go to support our alumni prgram so that comics who have finshed their first year can continue to do comedy for Stand Up For Mental Health. Tickets are $13.00 and can be obtained through Ticketmaster (604) 280-4444.

October 2005: The Canadian Mental Health Association Ottawa Branch confirms November 15 as the date for having David do a Stand Up For Mental Health show on in Ottawa. He's training seven of their staff and volunteers to do comedy all about their perspectives on mental illness. The show is at Absolute Comedy, 412 Preston Street. Tickets are $10.00 and can be obtained by calling CMHA at (613) 737-7791. Says CMHA’s Francine Page. "We think this is a great way to reach out to the community and change people’s perceptions of what it means to have a mental illness. When it comes to mental illness, people are often too ashamed to seek treatment. Stand Up For Mental Health provides a great way of fighting the shame and making it okay for people to reach out and get help."

May 18, 2005: Vancouver Courier cover story on Stand Up For Mental Health