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The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

CherryBombSenior Contributor26 Nov 2014, 6:44 pm AEDT

The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Is it ok for a person with lived experience to joke about their MI?

Stand up for Mental Health is a project that teaches people with MI stand-up comedy. The aim of this is to decrease stigma through having people with lived experience share the stories about MI in a light hearted way.

It originated in Canada and has recently made it's way onto our shores a couple of years back and it sparked some controversy. Some suggest that it's not ok to laugh at serious matters, while others argue that it helps people better understand MI.

Watch the video below and share your thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLksbEe_Y48

27 replies

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In response to: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

HobbitSenior Contributor27 Nov 2014, 6:42 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

That might be it. I live in NSW, so I guess I only get the Sydney guide.

Sorry I can't be of more help!

Hobbit

In response to: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

ivanaSenior Contributor27 Nov 2014, 6:49 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

I think it's fine to joke about Mental illness,There's a difference between this vs not taking mental illness seriously.
On the other hand,I don't think it's ever ok for others to make derogatory jokes about people with mental illness.

In response to: Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

ivanaSenior Contributor27 Nov 2014, 7:06 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

That said,history shows these attempts (although well meaning) are ineffective at reducing stigma.<br>They don't get to the rooot cause of why some people stigmatise which is fear,ignorance and afraid of themselves being seen as abnormal,mental etc and then losing friends etc.<br>These attempts achieve MAY? achieve little but stigma will continue as long as the media keep reporting on mentally ill in ways to induce fear instead of compassion,as long as doctors themselves stigmatise or distance themselves socially from people with severe mental illness,and as long as people still get discriminated in the workplace or are told they arn't capable or allowed for certain industries due to prior mental illness and as long as lawyers still use mental illness to " insinuate" in courts that certain mums or dads can't look after their kids,or people with Schizophrenia for example arn't believed and said their opinions and judgments etc are from delusion.<br>Basically I mean as long as Exposure of a person/s mental illness is still allowed to be used as a weapon then stigma will continue because people will keep trying to make themselves look normal and having it together etc for fear,if that makes sense.

In response to: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Alessandra1992Senior Contributor27 Nov 2014, 7:12 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Good news..Opening Shot-Crack Up abc2, 9.30pm Monday December 1st

Reviewed in today's Victorian Green Guide in The Age, pg 14..

Next Monday folks..or watch it on iview which is available all over Australia after Monday night!!

In response to: Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

HobbitSenior Contributor27 Nov 2014, 7:29 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Hi @ivana , Thanks for your insights. I really do agree with you, above all, the thing we need to combat is the stigma that surrounds mental illness, and I also agree that, yes the media may play a big part, but it also filters down to workplaces, secotrs and even health professionals.

Your last comment really does make sense to me - because of stigma, people certainly feel they have to 'look normal and have it all together'....all for fear that they will not be accepted in society. This is very concerning.

Hobbit.

In response to: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

RickSenior Contributor28 Nov 2014, 6:57 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Comedy has kept me alive for I was 7 and listened tpo my first Derek and Cllive tape .

I myself am constantly looking for the funny side to express the darkness.

I am a fruit loop

I am proud

and full of sugar.

Comedy is the great equaliser. If we can laugh at something we do'nt have to be afraid of it.

My friends crack jokes about my health. I'm glad. Cos as people who love me they are hurt by my illness too. Let them see the humour.

A new poster for peer support workers-

YOU DO'NT HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO WORK HERE BUT.......................

oH YEAH, YOU DO!

Hope endures

Rick

In response to: Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

SCORPIONSenior Contributor29 Nov 2014, 12:24 am AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Hi im new to all this and have not yet told anyone who I work with they just think im moody and have a strange way of looking at the world. But think if we're going to make it better for ourselves and others humor is not a bad idea. I have ptsd and depression and wear a mask so as to say I put on a front to the outside world. But would like to be myself as I think I could function better over time my phsyc thinks I cover up to much .but scared what people think so if could make light of minor things that could help.

In response to: Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

JTSenior Contributor29 Nov 2014, 4:03 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

"A new poster for peer support workers-

YOU DO'NT HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO WORK HERE BUT.......................

oH YEAH, YOU DO!"

Yep. And in my role as a consumer consultant when explaining my role I will say "I was hired because of my mental illness, how cool is that! Mind you I'm stuffed if they made the wrong diagnosis." In the right environment I'm also prone to winking and saying I might be the one with MI but I am definately not the craziest person on staff.

In response to: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

CherryBombSenior Contributor29 Nov 2014, 10:39 pm AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Hi Everyone,

Anyone find out about the documentary on StandUp for mental health?

I couldn't find anything on it, but I loved @Alessandra1992 idea about having a discussion about it.

Anyone catch it? Or know how to get a hold of it?

In response to: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

NebSenior Contributor30 Nov 2014, 3:54 am AEDT

Re: The jokes on us - Stand Up for Mental Health

Absolutely, otherwise it is just tragic! Do you remember Steady Eddie who had some ghastly disability, cerebral palsy I think? Initially, I felt very uncomfortable that this guy whose body was so twisted making jokes about it, and in time thought he was extraordinarily brave to get on stage and be a comic.

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