NHS funds stand-up comedy course for men at risk of suicide

A course teaching stand-up comedy skills to people suffering from mental illness, postnatal depression, anxiety and PTSD is being socially prescribed by the NHS.

Comedy On Referral, which previously ran a successful six-week course in Bristol for trauma survivors, has been awarded funding by the NHS to help men at risk of suicide in London.

Founder Angie Belcher was awarded a grant this week from the North West London Integrated Care System, which works across 10 NHS trusts and eight London boroughs to reduce suicides. She will work with psychologists to help up to 20 men deemed to be at risk of suicide.

Belcher said that stand-up comedy exercises and games can be used to process trauma and take control of personal narratives.

“I’ve taught comedy for 10 years, and students often told me how much stronger, more resilient and happier they were after exploring their personal histories through stand-up comedy,” she said.

The course is the result of a year-long research project on the effects of comedy as a therapeutic tool.

Patients referred by the NHS will create a five-minute stand-up set based on their personal stories. A performance for at least 100 people will be organised at the end of the course.