In 2014 Dave did a show about his history with anorexia sensitively using comedy to change the tone around eating disorders.
The show received critical acclaim, got made into a TED Talk & even received an award at The Houses Of Parliament from The UK's Eating Disorder Charity Beat.
Dave now uses comedy in order to talk about mental health (rather than mental illness) to engage hard to reach groups, help vulnerable people and lead with positivity rather than negativity.
In 2021 Dave created Comedy For Coping which teaches stand up comedy to people with experience mental health issues.
The course builds confidence, communication and connection with other people, which helps combat loneliness and literally provides a platform for participants to stand up for themselves.
Using peer support the course helps to nurture personal, as well as professional growth, and celebrates good mental health using humour.
Confidence
85% of people suffer from low self esteem (Dr Joe Rubino, 2016). Stand up is a great way of building your confidence by developing personal & professional skills that last long after the course has finished.
Communication
40% of men say they won't talk about their mental health (Priory Group Survey, 2018). Stand-up gives unique methods of talking about taboo subjects in a down-to-earth manner.
Connection
1 in 20 adults in England feel lonely “often/always” (ONS, 2018). Comedy brings people together - everyone enjoys having a laugh because it triggers the release of endorphins, the body's feel-good chemical and promotes an overall sense of well-being.
How Comedy Helps Your Mental Health
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