Comedy Central UK has anxiety issues on its Mind (VIDEO)

Comedy Central UK has joined with mental health charity Mind to focus the spotlight on anxiety with a series of performances by comedians who have and do suffer from mental health problems.

 

As well as raising funds for Mind, Comedy Central will feature the comedians in TV spots and will also push viewers to the Mind website, where the 10 full videos are available.

Edinburgh Comedy Awards best newcomer winner Sofie Hagen – performing, above – is one of them.

"]

Sofie said: “There are two ways you can feel alone. There is the good alone which involves a duvet, some pizza, some more pizza, Comedy Central and no bra. And there is the bad alone, where you think the world is too much and no one else feels the same. I am supporting Mind because people need to know that a lot of people are struggling with something and we should all struggle together – with pizza.”

One in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year and, for people with anxiety, every day can feel like they’re about to go on stage. MIND is there to provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

 

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “We’re delighted Comedy Central has chosen to support Mind, and launch the partnership in such an innovative, and engaging, way! We know laughter can boost wellbeing and hope that the #PerformanceAnxiety campaign will bring young people together, make them laugh and – most importantly – reach an audience of people who may not feel that they can talk about their mental health."

 

You can watch and share the full stand-up sets at mind.org.uk/stage or text STAGE to 70660 to donate £3 to Mind.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.