Comedy Central raises awareness about mental health problems
- Comedy Central has teamed up with the charity Mind to raise awareness of mental health issues
- The channel has filmed a number of special stand-up sets, which can be watched online now
- Tom Allen, Angela Barnes, Ivo Graham, Sofie Hagen and Felicity Ward are amongst the stars
Comedy Central has teamed up with the mental health charity Mind to help raise awareness about anxiety and other mental health problems.
The channel has filmed a number of stand-up sets featuring comedians who have experienced anxiety and "can relate to how it can feel to have a mental health problem." Tom Allen, Angela Barnes, Ivo Graham, Sofie Hagen, Caroline Mabey, Suzi Ruffell, Andrew Ryan, Lou Sanders, Ben Target and Felicity Ward are the comedians who took to the stage as part of a special Comedy Central gig.
The TV station has given over TV spots to highlight the campaign, and Mind has published the videos of the stand-up sets.
Felicity Ward, whose one-woman show What If There Is No Toilet focuses on some of her own personal anxiety experiences, says: "I wanted to be involved in this campaign because I have anxiety, depression and an unpredictable bum hole (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I figure if I keep talking about it eventually people will feel sorry for me and give me lots of money. Also, Mind do great work and I'm hoping some of their goodwill will rub off on me."
Sofie Hagen, who was named Best Newcomer in last year's Edinburgh Comedy Awards, adds: "There are two ways you can feel alone. There is the good alone which involves a duvet, some pizza, some more pizza, Comedy Central and no bra. And there is the bad alone, where you think the world is too much and no one else feels the same. I am supporting Mind because people need to know that a lot of people are struggling with something and we should all struggle together - with pizza."
Talking more about the issues, the channel explains: "One in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year and, for people with anxiety, every day can feel like they're about to go on stage. Mind is making a real difference in peoples' lives by providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem."
The channel's Managing Director Jill Offman comments: "We asked our employees what issues they most wanted to help and mental health was the one everyone felt most passionately about. We are very lucky to have some fantastic comedians to support this partnership, all of which have experienced anxiety; something that is particularly prevalent amongst young people who make up Comedy Central's core audience. Our aim is to shine a light on all the fantastic work that Mind does, whilst also helping to break down the taboos of talking about and sharing experiences of mental health problems."
Paul Farmer, the Chief Executive of Mind, says: "We're delighted Comedy Central has chosen to support Mind, and launch the partnership in such an innovative, and engaging, way! We know laughter can boost wellbeing and hope that the #PerformanceAnxiety campaign will bring young people together, make them laugh and - most importantly - reach an audience of people who may not feel that they can talk about their mental health.
"The Comedy Central partnership will also help us reach a point where anyone with a mental health problem feels able to ask for, and access, the help they need. Money raised will fund our work including the Mind Infoline, information and advice services, and the campaigning we do to secure a better deal everybody who experiences a mental health problem."
Below is the trailer for the campaign. As it explains, if you text STAGE to 70660 you can donate £3 to Mind.