Free Ezine : Get More Laughter: Tips on how to use humor to improve the
quality of your life
Rave Reviews
What
people are saying about David's work teaching stand up comedy to people with mental
illness:
"As
you could tell from the audience response, last nite was an overwhelming success.
I think the quality of the talent was superior to what you'd
find at a local talent night at Yuk Yuks. The fact that consumers were
able to find humour in their lived experience and communicate it so professionally
was inspiring, as was the fact that the preparation was done by email and telephone.
"
Thanks for your help, we are looking forward to more events of this
kind.
Steve Lurie, Executive Director,
Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto Branch
It was great to see the two Stand Up For
Mental Health shows you did in Toronto and St. Catharines.
The comics you
trained were funny and very insightful about their mental health issues. The fact
that they got a standing ovation indicates that the show was a huge hit! What
they had to say really resonated with the audience, many of whom face their own
mental health issues.
Your project really gives people
with mental illness a chance to prove what they’re capable of. I know
that the two clients from our organization who participated in the shows were
thrilled with the results!
We look forward to being part of more Stand Up
For Mental Health shows in the future.
George Kurzawa, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association,
Niagara Branch
Thank
you for entertaining us at our 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Fundraising event.
This event proved to be a far greater success than we had hoped, in large part
due to both your showmanship and your ability to teach your craft to our clients.
We have received numerous calls and messages regarding how much fun guests had
that evening and in particular, how wonderful were the comedic talents of you,
Janet, and Shane.
You made us all laugh, and more importantly,
you raised the self-esteem of two of our clients.
Harry
Spindel, Executive Director, Bayview Community Services, Toronto, Ontario
The words of one of the attendees said
it all when she said that two years from now she would not remember what some
'expert' on mental health had said- but she would never forget the 'Stand Up for
Mental Health' presentation that you and your 'mental health consumers' gave us.
The presenters made us laugh and helped us open both our
hearts and our minds.
Each of the presenters was unique and wonderful-
and you did a superb job of putting everyone at ease, creating a context for the
show, and together with your team, giving people the message that no matter what
the obstacle, with support and acceptance, people can move forward and succeed
in their lives.
Cheryl Grant
Gamble, MA, RCC, CEAP, HR Consultant (Wellness and EAP) Organization and Employee
Development, HRDC BC/Yukon Region
Your Stand Up For Mental Health show was the perfect way to end our conference.
All the comics were hilarious, and it was great to see how they could take such
a serious topic as mental health and find the humour in it.
The
fact that they received a standing ovation showed how much our attendees appreciated
their humour and courage.It was incredibly inspiring.
Laughter
truly is the best medicine, and your comics certainly proved that at our conference.
I thank-you and the comics for their contribution to promoting a recovery orientated
mental health system. In fact they all show recovery in action. I hope to be able
to have you and the comics back here in the Fraser East again, and again!!!!!!!!!
Rick Brown M.S.W., Coordinator,
Rehabilitation & Recovery Services, Mental Health & Addiction Services
Your
Stand Up For Mental Health show was the perfect way to end our Family Matters
conference. The show was hilarious and also very empowering. Seeing people with
mental illness and their family members turn their challenges into comedy was
truly inspiring.
And as one of the comics you trained, I found the whole
process to be valuable and a lot of fun. It was incredible
what you were able to accomplish with us via phone and email in the weeks prior
to the conference. Once we had our rehearsal I was amazed at how good everyone
was.
Thanks for all your hard work. It’s not easy to find the humour
in mental illness, and you helped us do that. And the fact we got a standing ovation
indicates that the conference attendees also loved the show.
Karen Liberman,
Executive Director Mood Disorders Association of Ontario
