Changing How People Look at Mental Illness One Laugh at a Time-Our Prejudices Start in Childhood

I remember spending most of Grade 2 standing in the corner, in Miss Carscadden's class. Was the adoring fall guy for the class comedian, Keith Fairley. My laughter at Keith's childish jokes really irritated the teacher, and always got a "your nuttier than a fruitcake" from Keith. It was burning shame and Nirvana both at once.

Do you remember the ways we talked about "nuttiness" as kids? How about miming the "you drive me crazy"? Or telling someone they were "one sandwich short of a picnic" or " a brick short of a full load". Kids can still be cruel, but adults can be even crueller, and of course, kids tend to just regurgitate what they have heard adults say.

Particularly when it comes to people who appear to act differently than themselves. You might have thought that the discussion would have matured in nearly 50 years, but for many of us, it's still at that school-yard level. That's where Stand Up For Mental Health comes in.

Stand Up For Mental Health is professional stand-up comedy, created by people with mental illness, not just for those who work with and for them, but for the public at large. SUFMH is elevating the conversation. We are still very funny-that is the whole point, but we have shifted the childhood cruelty to a totally new level. It's a learning curve for both our comedians and our audiences. Empowerment is the key.

Come and be part of the punch-line. Our first Stand Up For Mental Health Fundraiser of 2008 takes place at the  Granville Island Arts Club Stage, Sunday April 13 at 7pm. Please visit www.standupformentalhealth.com to order tickets and for more info.The cuts to government funding for laughter have been almost as drastic as the cuts to government funding for healthcare! We run this amazing program on a shoestring.Be part of the solution.

Please remember to vote for us,THE VOTING DEADLINE IS TOMORROW,THURSDAY MARCH 20. Changing how people look at mental illness is the second choice on the list of four, under the "what do you think?" link on the right of the main blog. We deeply appreciate your time and support.

pat