This information is about Stand Up FOr Mental Health Founder David Granirer NOT ME:
David Granirer has changed thousands of lives by breaking down the prejudice, stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental illness. Using laughter to do this means that David is able to work across all socio-economic, cultural, age and gender lines to develop a group of empowered and passionate stand-up comics. These comics and his innovative SMH classes, programs and performances across Canada and the US bring about profound changes in their audiences' perceptions about mental illness and those who have it. The ripple effect of these changes continues with every performance in every community. Audiences come away from SMH shows with a sense of excitement and inclusion and most of all, awareness.
David feels at home on the stage (any stage), using stand-up comedy to talk about mental illness.David intersperses his amazing comedy routines with some serious material about the national mental health discussion. Advocating for an open, frank, compassionate, inclusive and lively dialogue about mental illness from the stage is where David connects most passionately with his ever-expanding audiences.
David is passionate about having it be as normal to talk about having a mental illness as it is to talk about having a headache or arthritis or diabetes. He hopes that when someone comes into the workplace or any setting and says " I have a headache" and their peers respond by saying "Can we get you an asprin or cup of tea?", that when someone with a mental illness comes into their workplace and says "My voices are a little loud today", that they are met with the same compassion and kindness.
David also hopes that this greater public awareness will result in better services,housing and access to better medications and treatment for those with mental illness.
David Granirer is the creator and teacher behind Stand Up For Mental Health. Since 2004 he has been teaching hundreds of members of the community who live with mental illness how to create and perform their own original material about their mental health journeys. He is the Author of “The Happy Neurotic – How Fear and Angst Can Lead to Happiness and Success”. He is a professional stand-up comic. David teaches a Comedy Clinic at Langara College in Vancouver, where he turns hundreds of people with no comedy experience whatsoever, into stand-up comics. Many of his students have become professional comics, appearing on TV, radio and in comedy festivals across Canada and the US. He has taught stand-up comedy to drug addicts and cancer patients. David was featured in the CBC Passionate Eye documentary “Cracking Up”, about a year in the life of Stand Up For Mental Health. David is a professional speaker giving presentations to hundreds of organizations across North America on using humor in the workplace to overcome stress and adversity. Clients include AT&T, Canada Revenue Agency, Chevron, Wendy’s, TD Canada Trust, Canada Post, the RCMP, Service Canada, Sanofi-Aventis, Hilton Hotels, MS Nordion, Travelodge and others. David is still a Counselor in private practice. He works with couples, individuals and groups in the areas of anger management conflict resolution, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. He is also a consultant and trainer specializing in workshops and keynote addresses to numerous organizations on violence prevention and workplace wellness. Previously David worked as a Group Leader for the Family Services of Greater Vancouver, While there, he designed and facilitated a program on “Dealing with Difficult People.” David was an Associate trainer for Perspectives Human Relations Consultants in Vancouver, delivering workshops on Violence Prevention and Conflict Resolution. He was a Trainer at the Vancouver Crisis Centre. David obtained his BA and MA, Counseling Psychology, from Summit University in Louisiana. David currently lives in Vancouver with his wife and two children.
