Stand-up courses to 'aid mental health'

They say laughter is the best medicine – and now the NHS is offering courses in stand-up comedy.

And although comedians are not always seen as the most well-balanced members of society, the scheme is designed as a way to ward off mental health problems.

A total of 60 female council tenants in Birmingham thought to be at risk of developing such problems are being given six two-and-a-half hour sessions to develop their comedy skills.

The first 15 ‘graduates’ of the course will be performing at a community centre in the Sparkbrook area of the city tomorrow, hosted by comic character Mrs Barbara Nice. Her creator, Janice Connolly, is also director of the Women And Theatre group, which is running the sessions.

When granting the money for the scheme, the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust said: ‘Research documents how the physical impact of “having a laugh” can make people feel better.

‘Laughing together helps people realise that they are not alone in feeling the way they do, creating empathy and understanding amongst people, helping individuals feel less isolated and uniting communities.

‘The process will involve participants devising and writing their own comedy material as well as developing skills in performance, public speaking and microphone technique. The project will give participants a voice to express their feelings and experiences, therefore positively impacting on their mental health through raising confidence and self-esteem.

However, not everyone his happy with the spending. Right-wing pressure group the Taxpayers’ Alliance – which believes the planned public sector budget cuts go nowhere near far enough towards their wish for a low-tax Britain – have called the scheme a waste of money.

Chief executive Mark Elliot told the Daily Mail: ‘It is ridiculous to spend NHS resources on something like stand-up comedy. It would be laughable, if it wasn't for the fact that this money is sorely needed elsewhere. It is crazy to have a health service that runs stand-up comedy classes while people die for lack of funding for medicines.’

Comedian John Ryan has previously recieved NHS funding to develop a stand-up show designed to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues.

Published: 6 Jul 2010