What's possible, how it works, what people say

A man goes to the doctor and says he thinks he's unwell. "What are your symptoms?" asks the doctor. "Well," says the man, "Sometimes I think I'm a wigwam, and sometimes I think I'm a tepee." "- I know what's wrong with you," says the doctor. "You're two tents."

Have you noticed that there's quite a bit of terminology shared by comedy and the world of mental health? When people want to heap praise on a stand-up comedian they often use phrases such as totally mad, completely bonkers, or insanely funny. Steve Martin made his name as a wild and crazy guy. Many comedians know a thing or two about depression, personality disorders and bi-polar mood swings.

In original and creative comedy we can definitely see an element that involves the mind going against normal thinking and normal behavior, but I hope to show that the relevance of comedy to constructive mental health work goes much further than this.

The mind of the comedian

The comedian does indeed experiment with unusual workings of the mind. Comedians regularly use their minds in unconventional ways, and encourage audiences to do the same. Comedy itself defies convention and challenges concepts such as 'normality' and 'correctness'. Good comedy plays consciously with conventions of what is usual or acceptable; it lets things get out of control or out of order; and it takes the mind by surprise. Comedians are very conscious of how the mind works, and plays tricks with this. The classic structure of set-up and punch-line - the bricks and mortar of stand-up and most other forms of comedy too - leads the mind one way, then throws in an unexpected change of direction. Here's a simple example:

A drunk gets into a taxi at the railway station. “Take me to the station!”, he slurs. “We are at the station”, replies the cab driver. The drunk gets out again and says “Don’t drive so fast next time!”

An audience's participation in comedy can be a healthy, helpful or therapeutic experience. For one thing, laughter makes us feel good. Laughing breaks negative cycles of thought and provides respite from persistent worries. It releases tension and supplies endorphins and other chemicals which make us feel better. Laughter energises the individual and reduces physical stagnation or 'stuckness'. It benefits many organ systems in the body including breathing, cardio-vascular system and the muscles of the abdomen, or indeed the whole body.

Comedy goes deeper

But the benefit goes further than this. Enjoying comedy can help us move forward, become more positive, move us on from neurotic self-absorption, and laugh at our problems. A comedian draws attention to something that we may recognise as a problem in life, or feel embarrassed about; by laughing, the audience tacitly admits that it's a problem or embarrassment that they recognise. The comedian is showing us that we aren't alone in experiencing this problem. He or she is helping us explore and come to terms with the human condition. Laughing about it makes it feel less unbearable as an individual, and laughing together adds to the benefit by becoming an active part of the group or society. This is the sort of thing comedy philosophers mean when they say that "Comedy = Truth + Pain".

But for most mental health service users, explicit confrontation of issues may be too threatening; so Positive Comedy Learning has developed interactive group activities which use the mechanics of comedy at a more sensitive level. Here are some of the beneficial outcomes of this approach:

* giving scope to confident, individual expression of participants

* encouraging outgoing communication rather than introspection or isolation

* connecting with others in a group, sharing experience and creating mutual support

* exploring personal creativity and spontaneity

* and of course, laughing and having fun

So it's not about professional style comedy with a stand-up performer and an audience - more about very simple DIY comedy, very carefully facilitated and adapted to the group and the individuals involved. The key to all this - for the facilitator and for the participants - is the principle of improvisation: our ability to respond to the moment and make things up as we go along.

What happens?

A typical session starts with very simple group activities to encourage participation and involvement; it's always fine for individuals to join in as much or little as they wish. Just sitting and watching can be valid participation, and may be a step forward for some people - and an audience is a key element in comedy activities. As confidence and involvement grows, the activities can develop to offer more scope to individuals and to pairs or small groups ready to 'have a go'.

The principle of improvisation is a key element in Positive Comedy's approach. It's a very flexible element, meaning that people can join in the activities in their own way, being themselves as in everyday life, or creating any character or situation they wish. Improvised group activities also provide a context where each individual can operate according to their own level of confidence or ability. There's always an opportunity for everyone to be part of it, exactly wherever they are right now, in terms of their mental and emotional wellbeing.

Improvisational activity promotes two key principles which are of immense worth in terms of mental health development. In a light-hearted way, improvisation calls on participants to:

* be themselves, and
* be in the moment

Here's how they come into play. Well-designed improvisational comedy activities create an atmosphere of playful creativity much like that of children at play. This unpressurised setting encourages people to explore their own natural way of being, designed to preoccupy and absorb their attention so that there's less self-consciousness or tendency to compare oneself with others. And encouragement to be spontaneous and 'in the moment' draws attention away from morbid preoccupation with the past or anxious apprehension of the future - clearly healthy mental and emotional capabilities.

In an ongoing series of sessions, members of a group develop increasing confidence and greater improvisational scope. They might even divide into smaller groups and devise a performed piece to show the others. Individuals can choose the role that suits them - whether this is coming up with ideas, performing, preparing props, directing, or just watching. Different comedy genres can be explored in simple form, such as double-act, sketches, or solo forms like monologue, story-telling or even a bit of stand-up. Audiences can share comments on what they enjoyed or make suggestions for further development. Productions can be linked to other therapeutic activities such as puppet-making, making costumes or painting.

These activities have been devised for mental health service users by Positive Comedy, but they can easily be picked up and run by other facilitators and professionals, and adapted to suit any group; improvisation is a very flexible tool.

What people say

Positive Comedy has been running sessions for a variety of organisations in the field of mental health. Deborah Lennard of the Hove branch of Rethink, said of this work: "I really think that the group got a lot out of it. It was so wonderful to see the quieter group members come out of their shells" Deborah noticed, in the first comedy session with a group, that one participant joined in activities for the first time ever.

Gerard Rosenberg, a trainer in Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention, feels that appropriate use of comedy is a vital tool in regaining confidence and having a more positive outlook in life. "Indeed", he says, "I use comedy to help keep myself sane!"

Jude Bitton, Community Connector at Rowans Day Centre in Worthing, said after a course leading to performance at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton: “We cannot thank you enough, Gerry. The whole experience for the group and myself was just so positive, I was so impressed with their confidence and the great support you gave them, and that was feedback from the individuals themselves. Performing has given them a new belief in themselves which we haven't seen. Thanks for all your input, the group and staff at the Rowans are so grateful, it was such a fantastic project and opportunity.”

Gaynor Platt, manager of Shoreham and District Mental Health Association commented after an eight-week course: "We are very grateful, and have had much fun and laughter - which is always very important. I know it was very much enjoyed by all."Sessions have also been run for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and a number of branches of Mind. Staff from these organisations have gone on to use the processes introduced to them by Positive Comedy, and many of the activities have become favourites with service users. And it's good for the staff and mental health professionals too!

To talk about engaging Positive Comedy telephone Gerry on 01273 463611 or contact to receive an email reply