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Local counsellor uses comedy to help people dealing with depression

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VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – Mental health has been in the spotlight all week, following the death of Robin Williams.

A local counsellor is using comedy to help people out of the darkness.

David Granirer founded a therapy group called Stand Up for Mental Health, which operates in Victoria. He says getting people up on stage to get others laughing can give them a huge boost to confidence.

“We take some of the blackest moments in people’s lives, we turn them into stand-up comedy, and then they stand up in front of a theatre full of people and they tell them these stories. And people laugh and applaud and tell them how great they are.”

He admits stand-up comedy doesn’t fix the underlying problems, but it helps people connect with others and realize they’re not alone.

“I think they’re a lot better than they would be if they had stayed in the house and hidden under the blankets. That they’re getting out there, they’re connecting with people, [and] they’re doing something that not only benefits them, but also the community.”

He says one of the worst things about depression is it can not only lead to a feeling of isolation but can make people feel shame about their condition.

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